Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Watch for pockets of wind drifted snow on easterly, mid-elevation aspects capable of producing a small avalanche. Once the sun comes out and temperatures warm, loose-wet snow sluffs are possible.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Overnight snow delivered 1-2 inches of new snow onto a generally stable snowpack. While not a lot, that’s enough snow to form small isolated wind slabs in the lee of the northwest wind today. Falling onto a warm, moist snow surface, thin new slabs are likely to be stubborn though deeper pockets may react to a human trigger failing within the new snow. Evaluate the depth of the slabs as you travel, you should be able to steer around any deeper pockets to avoid this avalanche problem.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    New snow on south aspects will warm from the sun and become wet. Look for roller balls in steep terrain as an indicator. These wet loose sluffs will be small in size but can pull you off your feet if not managed appropriately.

Avalanche Discussion

Wind slabs formed late last week were warmed and then refrozen, reducing concerns for a larger avalanche. Today’s avalanche problems are mostly limited to the new snow and should be easy to manage. A sliding fall hazard may be an issue in areas with exposed, frozen bed surface in the shade or just a thin layer of new snow which will offer limited support for ski edges. Southern aspects should warm above freezing today, softening frozen older snow surfaces. 

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  • The John Sherburne Ski Trail is closed before the last hill. 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.

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