Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Your ability to trigger an avalanche in new, wind-drifted snow will increase throughout the day. Triggering even a small avalanche today could have deadly consequences if it causes a fall on the slick, hard, old snow surface. Always evaluate your exposure to a long fall in steep terrain and use crampons, an ice ax, and a helmet to mitigate some of this risk.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    What and where is it:Up to 3 inches of new snow and westerly winds could build small wind slabs on steep east-facing and south-facing slopes above 3000 feet. New wind slabs could be triggered by your weight and become increasingly large and sensitive as the day goes on. How can you recognize it: Watch for areas of new snow and deeper snow drifts sitting on top of the hard old snow surface. Blowing snow at the ridgelines and drifts deeper than your ankle are signs of a developing wind slab. Use your hand, a ski pole, or a shovel to assess slab depth and the ability of the new snow to stick to the hard old snow.

    How can you manage it:Question if you are getting lured onto a slope that looks soft but is hiding a slick, hard old snow surface just below the new snow. While triggering an avalanche today may not be enough to bury you, it could cause a deadly and uncontrollable fall. Pay attention to the actions of other people, especially if they are above you where new wind slabs could be larger and more sensitive.

Avalanche Discussion

After sustained extreme winds over the past week, the snowpack has been hard, wind-sculpted, and requires crampons and an ice ax to travel on steep slopes. A couple of inches of new snow today could hide this old snow surface, but the consequences of a fall in steep, exposed terrain remain deadly. 

Importantly, triggering a small wind slab avalanche today is possible, especially later in the day. This combination with the hard bed surface of old snow make traveling in steep avalanche terrain a dangerous game today. 

Multiple long, uncontrollable fall incidents occurred yesterday in the Tuckerman Ravine area, some of which resulted in injury. Actively work to reduce your exposure to a long sliding fall by moving carefully through steep terrain while evaluating the consequences of a fall. Use crampons and ice axes to prevent a fall and stick to terrain and conditions that match your skill level to maintain a margin of safety.

Below 3000 feet, new snow totals are likely to be much lower with much less wind. General caution is recommended but new avalanche problems are unlikely.

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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