Presidential Range

Generally safe snow conditions exist throughout the terrain today.  However, watch for large chunks of falling ice that could be as big as a car and avoid traveling and resting under areas where there is ice above you. 

Avalanche conditions are generally safe today because of the warming that happened over the past two days and the low amount of snow expected in the forecast period.  However, if the temperatures decrease more than predicted and snow totals increase, there is the remote chance for isolated pockets of wind slabs on Northwest, North and Northeast aspects. These wind slabs would be small in size but could knock you off your feet leading to a long sliding fall into rocks and cliffs.  Look for pillows of white new snow to indicate the wind slab as you travel in the terrain. 

Yesterday winds were light out of the south with sunny skies and warm temperatures.  The summit of Mount Washington reached 32 degrees fahrenheit while in Tuckerman Ravine it was above 40 degrees fahrenheit from 10:30am on.  This warming helped Monday’s wind slabs bond to the old bed surface becoming homogeneous and healing the weak layer.  There was also very little wet loose activity or roller balls indicating that the terrain had also lost the loose snow that had been creating our wet loose avalanche problem.  Skiers yesterday enjoyed the mild weather and the spring conditions.

Last night the snow refroze but temps were just at the freezing mark.  This means that snow today will likely bond to the old stable snow surface.  Air temperatures will also be around the freezing point and any snow falling will be dense and less available for wind transport.  With the current forecast, the storm will not pose any significant avalanche hazards today.

With the warming over the last couple days, ice throughout the ravine has the potential to break and fall off.  These chunks of ice can be as large as a car and tumble down to the valley floor.  Avoid traveling and resting under any ice while in the terrain today and be cautious of places like Lunch Rocks which are in the path of falling ice.

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.

• The John Sherburne Ski Trail is closed at the third cut-over.  Please cross over to the Tuckerman Ravine trail at the yellow rope and walk down the hiking trail.
• The Harvard Cabin is closed for the season.
• The Lion Head Summer Trail remains closed for the season due to avalanche risk. The Lion Head Winter Route is open.