Presidential Range

An icy, refrozen snowpack makes avalanches unlikely. Mountaineering equipment and well-practiced skills are required to safely travel in steep terrain and help prevent a dangerous sliding fall.

Yesterday’s warm, wet snowpack is today’s cold and frozen snowpack after temperatures fell overnight. 

Temperatures were well above freezing for most of the day yesterday, reaching 45 F on the summit of Mt Washington. Almost one-half inch of rain fell over the last two days. Significant melting reduced the snowpack on the summit of Mt Washington from 18 inches to 12 inches. At the Hermit Lake Snow Plot, the total height of snow dropped from 59 inches to 55 inches. Observers in Tuckerman Ravine yesterday found the snowpack to be deeply saturated. 

Last night, a passing cold front pulled temperatures down below freezing at middle and upper elevations. Temperatures are forecast to continue to drop throughout the day, to the single digits on the higher summits. 

Today, expect to find a hard, icy snow surface on steep terrain, and a mix of hard or punchy-rotten snow around hiking trails. Long sliding falls will be the greatest mountain hazard for the next two days. Cold temperatures, clouds, and strong wind will very likely prevent the snow surface from softening, even on south aspects.

The Lion Head Summer Trail is CLOSED due to increased avalanche hazard. The Lion Head Winter Route is OPEN and the most direct route to the Mount Washington Summit from Pinkham Notch. 

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.