Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You could trigger an avalanche today above 3000 ft on steep east and south-facing slopes. Look for snow blowing at ridgelines, drifts deeper than your boot tops, and large, pillowy drifts as signs of the avalanche problem. Traveling on hard and textured old snow surfaces will reduce your exposure to unstable snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    What and where is it: Wind slabs have likely formed in east and south-facing terrain above 3000 ft from 4-5  inches of snow over the past two days. Overnight, when the northwest winds decreased, slabs may have begun building in start zones and in terrain above 5000 ft.

    How can you recognize it:  Look for smooth, pillowy areas of wind-drifted snow that could be in contrast to firm and textured old snow surfaces. While you may find some shooting cracks, stiffer slabs may give less immediate feedback. Fog and continued blowing snow may make visual observations challenging, so pay attention to slab thickness from your boot penetration and probing with a pole to understand the size of newly formed wind slabs. How can you manage it: Use caution around areas of smoother, drifted snow. Dig down to the hard snow below to better understand how easily the new snow slides on top of the old surface with hand shears or column tests. To reduce your exposure to new slabs, travel on hard and wind-textured old snow surfaces.

Avalanche Discussion

Today presents another day of active decision-making and snowpack assessment if you choose to enter avalanche terrain. At this point, there is limited data about new wind slabs formed from 3.7 inches of snow recorded at the summit and 5.12 inches of snow recorded from Hermit Lake. The snow was low-density (6.5 % at the summit and 8.6% at Hermit Lake), raising questions about how productive the snow was loaded under sustained extreme west and northwestern winds. 

Overnight, northwest winds decreased, which may have built slabs higher in terrain and into upper elevation. As the winds increase today, surfaces above 5000 ft will likely become scoured and wind-hardened, but before this occurs, small, softer, and potentially reactive slabs may exist.

Take time to assess the snow surfaces visually before committing to traveling on steep terrain. If you are finding smooth, pillowy, wind slabs, dig down to assess the interface between the new snow and the old hard snow surface.

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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