Mt Hood
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Joe Dellaporta
Issued: Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 6:36 PM PDT
Expires: Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineFirm morning snow will give way to wet snow instabilities as the morning heats up. A couple of small, human-triggered wet loose avalanches were reported on Saturday during the heat of the day; expect this to continue on Sunday as freezing levels remain elevated. Pay close attention to your position, timing, and consider moving out of steep terrain of consequence if the snow feels sticky or starts shedding downhill.
Avalanche Danger
Sunday, April 5, 2026
8500-6500ft2 - Moderate
6500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-3500ft1 - Low
Monday, April 6, 2026
8500-6500ft2 - Moderate
6500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-3500ft1 - Low
Avalanche Danger ScaleLearn moreGeneral InfoGeneral Information1 - LowLow2 - ModModerate3 - ConsConsiderable4 - HighHigh5 - ExtrExtreme
1 - Low | 2 - Moderate |  3 - Considerable |  4 - High |  5 - Extreme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
| Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
| Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
Avalanche Problems (1)
Problem #1: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(4/4/2026)
An example of one of the small wet loose avalanches triggered on Saturday.
SE @ 6000 ft
Photo: Joe Dellaporta
It felt easy to trigger small wet loose avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes by late morning on Saturday. Expect this trend to continue on Sunday as the morning warms up. While most snow instabilities have been confined to the typical sun-exposed aspects (W-S-E), this may not be the case as the warm high-pressure system persists. You may notice wet snow forming on more shaded aspects as freezing levels remain elevated or higher up in elevation than you may normally see.
Look for rollerballs and pinwheels as precursors to larger wet loose avalanches. The upper snowpack has not fully transitioned from dry to wet yet, so let sticky surfaces serve as another indicator that wet loose avalanches can be triggered. Triggering a wet slab is unlikely and very difficult to assess, but not necessarily impossible in terrain that was previously wind-loaded, especially as the snowpack transitions from winter-like to a more predictable spring melt-freeze structure.
The hot weather may also weaken cornices and widen glide cracks in some areas. Limit your exposure where you find these bigger overhanging chunks of snow, as they often fail without warning.
Forecast Discussion
Another hot day is in store for Mt.Hood on Sunday. The only difference from Saturday may just be some thin high clouds and moderate winds during the morning hours that shouldn’t really affect the avalanche forecast. Saturday night will bring another round of high freezing levels, but with mostly clear skies, the upper snowpack should undergo a light refreeze and set the stage for firm morning travel. During these early hours of the day, expect long, sliding falls to be your greatest hazard in steeper terrain. As the morning warms up, expect firm surfaces to give way to warming induced avalanche and mountain hazards. Old, lingering wind slabs are likely trending unreactive but may not be impossible to trigger in complex, shaded terrain that still harbors dry snow at upper elevations.
Saturday was sunny and busy around Mt. Hood. While it may feel like volcano season, the snowpack isn’t quite resembling a true melt-freeze cycle yet. If you dig down, you’ll still find dry or moist snow resting over a very stout crust that was buried on 3/31. Until the snowpack fully transitions into spring, continue to approach steep terrain with caution, especially above the forecast zone where observations have been more limited.
If you're planning on climbing or skiing Mt. Hood, consider checking out the Mt. Hood Climbing Ranger page for up-to-date condition information on the upper mountain.
Are you heading out? Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp.
This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions.
It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.