Presidential Range

New snow and wind yesterday increased the avalanche danger from LOW to MODERATE. Human triggered avalanches are possible today with the largest wind drifted slabs deep enough to bury a person. Hard refrozen snow will present a sliding fall hazard where strong wind has scoured away new snow.

Falling ice is a natural natural hazard in the spring.  Limit your time on slopes beneath frozen waterfalls to avoid this hazard.    

The lower half of Sherburne ski trail is mostly rocks and mud and is now CLOSED at the rope, currently located across the trail at crossover 5. Please help preserve early and late season skiing by removing your skis and walking down the Tucks trail from there. 

The avalanche hazard rating is elevated to Moderate today due to yesterday’s higher than expected snow totals. Forecasters were surprised as we watched new snow accumulate through the day yesterday.  While a trace to 2 inches had been forecast, continuous snow showers produced 4 inches on the summit of Mt Washington and 6 inches at the Gray Knob snow plot.  Snow showers at Hermit Lake settled quickly with warmer temperatures leaving us with 2 inches this morning at the snow plot. With warmer temperatures and possible rain expected today and tomorrow, the new wind slabs are likely to pass through a window of increased instability, then stabilize quickly over the next few days. 

The snowpack at all elevations has changed dramatically with warm temperatures and rain followed by unseasonably cold weather and daily melting.

• The lower half of Sherburne ski trail contains long sections of  mud and rocks. A rope across the ski trail at crossover #5 signals the closed trail below. Cross over and walk down the Tuckerman Ravine trail at this point. 
• Increased streamflow from rain and melting snow last week has undermined snow and weakened snow bridges over stream beds. 
• The waterfall holes and moats near rocks are growing large enough to fall into in the Headwall area of Tuckerman Ravine. The main waterfall hole and the “Open Book” ice climb hole below are both over 75’ deep. 
• Rotten snow off trail can be knee to hip deep when not solidly frozen. 
• The Little Headwall has melted and turned back into a waterfall with open water upstream. The safest way down from Tuckerman Ravine is hiking down the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Hermit Lake.

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Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the forecasters at MWAC. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations here. 

Listen to the weekly MWAC Outreach Podcast provided by Ski The Whites. Discussions include snowpack information, weekend outlook, and general avalanche related info. 

The Harvard Cabin is open for camping only with no entry allowed inside the cabin. There is no access to the breezeway at HoJos.

Please Remember:

• Safe travel in avalanche terrain requires training and experience. This forecast is just one tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. You control your own risk by choosing where, when, and how you travel.
• Avalanche danger may change when actual weather differs from the higher summits forecast.

For more information contact the US Forest Service Snow Rangers, AMC visitor services staff at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, or the caretakers at Hermit Lake Shelters or seasonally at the Harvard Cabin (generally December 1 through March 31). The Mount Washington Ski Patrol is also available on spring weekends.