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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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You could trigger a small avalanche today in north and east-facing terrain above 3000 ft. Look for blowing snow at ridgelines for signs that new drifts could be forming. Bright white, pillowy, smooth snow are areas to look out for that could be unstable. Favor traveling on refrozen gray firm surfaces to limit your exposure to potential avalanches. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    What and where is it: Today, you have two types of wind slabs to keep in mind:

    Old wind slabs have been observed in highly sheltered east-facing terrain at mid-elevation. These are small and highly isolated and may be found in areas like the Summer Lion Head Traverse or under the ice bulge in Main Gully in Gulf of Slides.

    New wind slabs could form in north, northeast, and east-facing terrain at middle and upper elevations from new snow and decreasing southwest winds.How can you recognize it:  Old wind slabs have been easy to identify from the slick 12/29 melt-freeze crust as bright white, rounded, and pillowy, softer snow. They have also been observed to have strong-over-weak structure. 

    New wind slabs could form as small, soft, reactive slabs. Look for blowing snow at ridgelines, thin areas of bright white new snow, and new drifts forming to identify this problem. 

    How can you manage it: Visually inspect terrain to plan your route as you travel on steep north and east-facing slopes. Look for sheltered terrain that has smooth white snow as potential areas of concern for old wind slabs. For newly forming wind slabs, assess the size and sensitivity using poles, probes, or boot penetration, and dig down to the 12/29 melt-freeze crust to assess sensitivity. Both wind slab problems are expected to be small; however, a small avalanche could lead to a fall that is impossible to stop. This could be consequential if it leads to exposed rocks, trees, or cliffs. 

    (12/31/2025) Turn around point around 4400’ Photo: Ryan S

    Gulf of Slides Main Gully underneath the ice bulge- an observation of an isolated small wind slab with strong-over-weak structure

Avalanche Discussion

Happy New Year, forecast readers!

Today, you have two different wind slabs to think about managing. For new wind slabs, the small amounts of new snow may limit the size. However, with changing wind direction, it is possible that there is some older snow that has yet to be transported. Look out for blowing snow at ridgelines and new drifts forming to indicate the new slabs developing. It is also possible that there is no old snow available for transport due to the hours of extreme wind, which could result in very thin or even no new slabs forming.

While navigating old and new wind slabs could feel complicated, your travel remains relatively simple. Moving on firm ice surfaces will reduce your exposure to any avalanche hazard. But you will incur the risk of a fall that could be difficult to stop on steep and icy terrain. Good footwork with crampons will be your best tool against a fall, but an ice axe and helmet continue to be valuable gear. Assess areas of smooth snow before committing to traveling across them, and consider submitting an observation of what you find!

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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