Mt Hood
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Author: Joe Dellaporta
Issued: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Expires: Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
The Bottom Line
The Bottom LineThe sun may come out, but avalanche conditions will remain dynamic. Strong wind distribution may maintain sensitive wind slabs that could be easily triggered by the weight of a skier or climber. Periods of clear skies and strong April sun will also drive wet snow instabilities, with the potential for natural wet avalanches during sunnier stretches. With overlapping avalanche problems, have a plan that allows you to easily move to lower-angle or shaded terrain if you don’t like what you’re seeing.
Avalanche Danger
Thursday, April 16, 2026
8500-6500ft3 - Considerable
6500-5500ft2 - Moderate
5500-3500ft2 - Moderate
Friday, April 17, 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 (2)
Problem #1: Wind Slab
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(3/5/2026)
An example of rippled snow surfaces and sharp drifts in wind drifted terrain.
Photo: Joe Dellaporta
Precipitation rates will relax on Wednesday night, but strong NW winds will continue to drift recent accumulations and may maintain reactive slabs in upper and some middle elevation terrain. Wind slabs may fail within mid-storm interfaces or break on a stout crust that likely sits 1-3 feet below the surface on wind-loaded features.
Look for these drifts to be most prevalent on the downwind sides of ridges and saddles, below cornices, and near rocky complex terrain. Blowing snow, wind-rippled surfaces, and sharp cornices are clear indicators that wind slabs may lurk on slopes nearby. You can use small test slopes to help you gauge slab reactivity on smaller slopes, but these may not provide reliable feedback on bigger alpine slopes that may harbor thicker wind slabs. Shooting cracks, active blowing snow, or recent avalanche activity are clear red flags to keep slope angles in check.
Problem #2: Wet Loose
Problem Type
Wet Loose
Aspect/Elevation
Likelihood
Size
(4/15/2026) Photo: Joe Dellaporta
An example of a small wet loose that was triggered in steep lower elevation terrain on Wednesday.
Partly sunny skies will allow the strong April sun to leave its mark on steep, sunny slopes. Look for sticky, wet snow surfaces to form on these sunny slopes as the day heats up. Some of these wet loose could grow large and run far on the underlying crust in bigger terrain features.
It may not take much sun or warming at the snow surface for the new snow to react. Pay close attention to rollerballs, pinwheels, or sticky snow surfaces as these could be precursors to larger, wet loose avalanches. Head for a shadier slope if you see these signs of warming.
Forecast Discussion
The storm wasn’t as strong as forecast, but weather stations still picked up 11-15 inches of new snow (1.2 + SWE) that fell over a widespread crust as of Wednesday evening. Backcountry travelers and avalanche professionals near Mt. Hood Meadows reported plenty of wind transport and stiff slabs in more exposed terrain. They also reported the intermittent sun-breaks stiffening up surfaces and triggered small, wet loose avalanches on steep slopes below treeline.
Precipitation is forecast to taper off on Wednesday evening, but avalanche conditions will remain dynamic as strong NW winds continue to drift new snow into thick slabs. On sun-exposed slopes, the strong April sun will undoubtedly kill good riding conditions and create wet-snow instabilities that may be primed for human or even natural triggering. You’ll have to manage both dry and wet snow avalanche problems, depending on aspect and timing. Take your time making and processing observations, and pick less consequential or simpler terrain to reduce uncertainty.
If you plan to head to Mt Hood Meadows or Ski Bowl for uphill use, please remember these ski areas are now closed for the season and avalanche mitigation is longer being conducted. Treat this terrain like a backcountry snowpack and carry avalanche rescue gear.
Are you heading out? You can help the forecast staff and backcountry community out by submitting your 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.