Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Rain introduces the chance for an avalanche of wet snow today. Watch out for slushy snow on steep terrain becoming waterlogged. Look for firm snow surfaces to avoid a heavy wet avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    With a weak overnight freeze, temperatures above freezing at lower and middle elevations and up to ½ inch of rain today, wet snow avalanches will become increasingly likely. 

    Loose wet avalanches are a type of loose snow avalanche composed of wet or moist snow. They occur when surface snow loses strength due to melting. They release at a point and form a fan shaped avalanche as they move downhill. 

    Rain is the main red flag, but also pay attention to how wet and how soft the snow is under your feet. Wet mushy snow deeper than your boot top on steep terrain are clues to show the potential for the wet snow to slide under your feet. 

    Falling temperatures this evening and overnight will eliminate this avalanche problem by refreezing the wet surface snow, likely creating a sliding fall hazard tomorrow. 

Avalanche Discussion

The warm front today will create wet spring-like weather, but due to a generally stable snowpack, large avalanches are unlikely. Instabilities are most likely limited to surface snow becoming wet and waterlogged as temperatures warm and rain intensity increases mid-day. In many areas where the snow surface is firm, surface instabilities should be minor. In the areas where 6 inch to 16 inches of softer wind drifted snow exist, the wet loose avalanches will be more significant, especially in steep consequential terrain. 

Be prepared for a refrozen snowpack tomorrow. A cold front will drop temperatures at middle and upper elevations to the teens, which will slowly refreeze the snowpack reintroducing stability. Once temperatures drop back below freezing, a chance for 1-2 inches of new snow and a strong northwest wind could bring small, thin wind slabs in east facing ravines. 

The Lion Head Summer Trail is CLOSED due to increased avalanche hazard. The Lion Head Winter Route is OPEN and the most direct route to the Mount Washington Summit from Pinkham Notch. 

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