Presidential Range

A firm and refrozen snowpack creates dangerous slide-for-life conditions today on all steep snow-covered surfaces. Travel on these slopes requires mountaineering equipment, including crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet, along with the skill to use them effectively. Secure footwork is the best way to avoid a fall, as self-arrest will be difficult or impossible on steep, icy surfaces.Late this afternoon, a couple inches of snow may begin to accumulate. This new snow is not expected to meaningfully reduce existing slide-for-life conditions, or increase avalanche hazard during daylight hours.

The most serious threat to human safety today, during daylight hours, is the frozen snowpack and resulting slide-for-life conditions. Forecasters in the field yesterday found snow surfaces frozen solid and impenetrable without crampons. The same is expected today. A fall on steep terrain could have serious consequences, and self-arrest would likely be difficult or impossible. Snow arriving later today may begin to improve surface conditions, but accumulations before dark may not be enough to make a significant difference.

Snow will spread across the summits this afternoon and continue overnight. Middle and lower elevations will likely begin with a rain-snow mix, but as the freezing line drops overnight, snow will work its way down to lower elevations. New snow totals on higher terrain may reach 2 to 4 inches overnight, with as much as 7 inches possible by Saturday morning. With relatively low wind speeds and limited snow transport over exposed upper-elevation terrain, some slab formation may occur in north and easterly aspects, but large slabs are not expected today. As always, make your own assessments for localized drifting and terrain-specific variations in hazard.

Tomorrow, icy surfaces and slide-for-life conditions may improve. The new snow is expected to arrive relatively wet, which should help it bond well to the firm, icy surface. If middle and upper elevation snowfall reaches the higher end of the forecast, surface conditions may improve enough to lessen the current sliding hazard on steep terrain. At the same time, if snow totals reach the upper end of the forecast and west winds increase as expected, wind slabs will form on easterly aspects, creating an increase in avalanche hazard. Check tomorrow’s avalanche forecast for the most current assessment.

Springtime Mountain Hazards: Monday’s rain, above freezing temperatures, and fog continued to drive the development of various mountain hazards that should be factored into your decision-making and route planning. Large, deep, and open holes exist in many places. One of the most consequential open holes is near The Lip in Tuckerman Ravine.Tomorrow, new snow may disguise these hazards but they will not disappear. Learn more about springtime mountain hazards and how you could manage them.  

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation on our website or in the new Avy phone app of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.