Lawinenlagebericht

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
Open full map
Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 5 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Another day of high freezing levels will maintain the threat of wet avalanches and cornice failures in steep terrain. Travel early, and avoid steep slopes where the snowpack feels wet, punchy, and unsupportable, particularly above terrain traps. Fortunately, freezing levels are forecast to drop in the coming days, so consider waiting for cooler weather when the snowpack is more locked up. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    High freezing levels with poor overnight refreezes are maintaining the risk of wet avalanches in steep terrain. Wet loose avalanches have been easier to push and access in recent days, but as each warm day passes, the uncertainty about larger, unpredictable wet slabs increases. While these are less likely than wet loose, they should be on your radar on large slopes that haven't seen a refreeze in over 4 days. 

    You won’t have to go far to notice the upper snowpack is wet and sloppy. Just step off your skis or machine and see how far you’re sinking to help you judge how weak the upper snowpack is getting. If you’re sinking past your boot-tops, consider avoiding bigger terrain.

    Most slopes below 8000 ft are wet, punchy, and haven't seen much refreeze. In these areas, you can reduce your exposure by sticking to slopes under 35 degrees and limiting time spent under big terrain. This travel advice will also help you avoid other warming-induced hazards, such as sagging cornices and glide cracks, that may exist throughout the zone.

    (3/19/2026)

    An example of a small wet loose in Big Zigzag Canyon on Thursday.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Mid-elevation weather stations have not seen temperatures below freezing since March 15th. Since then, freezing levels have skyrotted and temperatures have been warm. This pattern has also been accompanied by strong alpine winds, which have helped keep surfaces firmer and more supportable above 8000 ft. While these firm surfaces help limit wet avalanche concerns, they also will introduce other mountaineering hazards like long, sliding falls, especially as temperatures start to drop in the coming days. Expect these firm surfaces to become more widespread at upper elevations as freezing levels begin to drop and clouds thicken on Friday. Light rainfall likely won’t do much to influence the already wet snowpack and avalanche danger at this point. 

Observations reporting dry snow have been few and far between; however, we suspect that pockets of wind-blown snow may linger in high north and east aspects. If you find these wind stiffened pockets, keep your eyes peeled for unstable wind slabs in consequential terrain.

Abgedeckte Regionen