Boletín de aludes

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sun
Alta montaña
1 · Débil
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
1 · Débil
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 8 months ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Large avalanches are unlikely. Isolated pockets of wind-drifted snow may still exist in sheltered terrain. Favor textured, wind-affected surfaces and be cautious when transitioning into smooth, drifted snow.

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Unlikely
    Tamaño
    1–2

    What and where is it: Around 9 inches of new snow over the last several days formed wind slabs on north through southeast aspects. Since then, many hours of strong west winds have scoured upper and middle elevations, leaving many wind-exposed areas firm or hard and improving stability.

    Some sheltered pockets were protected from the wind, and sensitive wind slabs may still exist behind terrain features like rollovers and rock buttresses.

    How can you recognize it:  Use snow surface texture to separate hard, wind-affected surfaces from sheltered slabs. Wind-scoured snow will look and feel textured, firm, or even icy, often with sastrugi or a dull, weathered appearance. In contrast, the remaining wind slabs will appear smooth, rounded, and more uniform, sometimes sounding hollow or allowing your skis/boots to punch into a denser layer. Any stiff, smooth drift that sits on a weaker layer deserves careful evaluation before committingHow can you manage it: Choose wind-exposed, textured surfaces and be skeptical when transitioning into smooth, drifted snow. Avoid steep, wind-loaded features where slabs are most likely to remain intact, and manage terrain carefully around sheltered pockets and cross-loaded features. In suspect areas, dig down to identify the slab and the interface, and use quick hand shears or quick column tests to assess how easily the slab releases. If you find a softer slab that feels hollow, stiff and cohesive, treat it as a sign to step back to limit your exposure.

Avalanche Discussion

Strong winds have been the dominant force shaping the snowpack over the past 24 -48 hours. Nearly 28 hours of sustained west winds above hurricane force (74 mph) have scoured wind-exposed terrain, stripping snow down to firm or hard surfaces. These extreme winds also promote wind compaction, breaking wind-transported snow into finer fragments and packing it tightly as it is deposited. This densification has built firm, textured surfaces across exposed terrain, shrinking the areas where an avalanche remains possible.

New snow has been limited to light, upslope snow showers, with small accumulations that were likely quickly redistributed by the wind. Based on countless similar wind events, we expect to see a strong contrast across the terrain: wind-affected areas textured, firm, and weathered, while sheltered areas can retain smoother, rounded, or pillowy deposits. If any intact wind slabs remain, they are most likely in lee features such as gullies, below ridgelines, and cross-loaded terrain.

We remain at Moderate avalanche danger at middle elevations due to uncertainty and a lack of recent field observations. Prior to the high wind event, we knew the snowpack structure existed to support larger avalanches. ( OBS1, OBS2, OBS3) While the wind has likely improved stability in many areas, we do not yet have enough ground truth information to confidently determine the distribution of remaining poor structure at middle elevations or whether softer reactive slabs remain. 

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. 

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