Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Human triggered avalanches are possible in recent wind drifted snow. Look for patches of smooth, clean white snow to identify the suspect drifts. Warming air temperatures will increase this risk. Be alert to changing snow conditions and seek out colder snow if the snow surface becomes wet. The avalanche danger today is MODERATE.

Wind scoured snow surfaces will be hard and icy if not softened by the sun. Crampons and an ice axe will be needed to prevent a dangerous long sliding fall. 

The lower half of Sherburne ski trail is now CLOSED at the rope across the trail at crossover 5 due to melting and recent heavy rain. Please help prevent erosion by removing your skis and walking down the Tucks trail at the yellow rope.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    At least two Red Flags will be present today as clues to indicate avalanche danger. 

    1. Loading by snow or wind in the last 48 hours. Four to five inches of snow in the last 48 hours was affected by strong northwest winds, building wind slabs primarily in the eastern ravines at mid elevations. In the most wind exposed locations, new slabs will likely be firm and stubborn, but they will be softer and more reactive in wind protected areas tucked behind rock buttresses. Spatial variability will play a role in your chance of triggering one of these slabs. 
    2. Rapid warming of cold dry snow. After a cold, wintery day yesterday with snow showers and blowing snow, temperatures will rise above freezing at mid and upper elevations. Warming today will decrease the stability of fresh wind slabs, increasing the sensitivity to a human trigger. As you move around terrain today, track the thickness of the slab with your ski pole and the degree of warming by evaluating how wet the snow is getting and how deep. If you start sinking in with your skis or boots to wet snow, recognize the slab has lost a lot of strength and stability is decreasing.

    Increase your margin of safety by traveling one at a time. You may be able to avoid this avalanche problem altogether by traveling on the old snow surface.  Look for clean white pillows of snow to indicate new wind slabs.  

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1

    Warm air temperatures and sun will create a sloppy surface layer of wet slushy snow. In fresh snow, these slides will start at a point and fan out as they travel downhill and entrain additional wet snow. Even if they remain small in size, the risk is that the sloppy surface snow will move underfoot and possibly carry you. Be careful in steep terrain where falls have consequences. Seek out colder snow to avoid this avalanche problem. Roller balls observed in fresh snow is one indicator this avalanche problem exists.

Avalanche Discussion

The snowpack has changed dramatically over the past week due to several days warm temperatures and rain.

  • The lower half of Sherburne ski trail is mostly 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. 
  • The ski trail to the Gulf of Slides is likely wet and muddy for the first mile near Pinkham, including a few stream crossings. 
  • Increased streamflow from rain and melting snow last week has undermined snow and weakened snow bridges over stream beds. 
  • Crevasses and waterfall holes are large enough to fall into in the Headwall area of Tuckerman Ravine. 
  • Rotten snow off trail remains knee to hip deep. 
  • 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.

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