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

Wind Slabs developed yesterday on strong southwest and west wind at upper elevations. You will most likely find these slabs to be stubborn to a human trigger in most places that you find them. Some of these wind slabs could be one or two feet thick and may be reactive to a human trigger in the steepest most sheltered terrain. Avalanche danger is MODERATE today, with human triggered wind slabs avalanches possible. Assess slopes carefully before committing to them, especially above any form of terrain trap. Lower elevations received rain yesterday which should limit avalanche concerns today. Consider the effect of warming today and assess steep slopes accordingly.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent snow is stiff even in sheltered locations at Hermit Lake this morning. The new snow yesterday was variable in density so you’ll likely find weak interfaces in the mostly stubborn slabs that developed. Overall density of the new snow at 3800’ is about twenty percent but you will likely find softer and weaker layers in the new wind slabs. Winds were strong enough yesterday to drift even the dense snow. Strong wind no doubt packed the new snow pretty tightly in the wind exposed terrain. It will be worth it to keep in mind the variable bed surfaces that exist beneath these slabs. That surface may be now covered with these new slabs and have proven to be a poor bonding surface for new slabs to adhere to. Larger avalanches than D2 are unlikely but not impossible.  

Avalanche Discussion

Some folks enjoyed the new snow on lower angled terrain outside of avalanche paths yesterday. Medium sized natural sluff activity was reported coming from Odell Gully midday as winds began to howl from the southwest. Avalanche debris is visible this morning midway down the lookers left fork of Hillman’s Highway and  possibly Dodge’s Drop. Similar aspects with a sizable fetch are likely to have slid and probably refilled yesterday as well. Wind textured snow coats most of Tuckerman Ravine this morning with some sastrugi in high start zones indicating that wind scouring occurred there. The wind shift to the west combined with dense snow has likely drifted snow across many upper elevation aspects so anticipate wind spread wind slab distribution, though the snow density and wind speed and duration likely didn’t create particularly large slabs except in a few locations like the midslope and apron of Chute. Assess snow structure along with distribution and size of these new wind slabs if you push into bigger terrain today. People continue to observe collapsing of facet layers at lower elevations. Beware of the weakening effects of warm temperatures and sunshine on what may have been stiff, stubborn slabs.

Regions covered