Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You could trigger an avalanche today in steep terrain where the wind has formed deep drifts of new snow. Careful snow evaluation is critical for safe travel in avalanche terrain. Watch out for snow blowing at the ridgelines, cracking in the snow under your feet, and deep snow drifts that are challenging to walk in as signs of a dangerous avalanche problem.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You could find and trigger a wind slab avalanche today on most aspects above 3000 feet in elevation. The size of these avalanches have the capability to bury or kill a person. Use extra caution near terrain traps, like narrow or deep gullies, where depth of avalanche debris is concentrated to a single, deep area. You are more likely to find a firm, icy snow surface on north-facing and northeast-facing slopes. Remember that ski tracks or boot tracks on a snow slope DO NOT guarantee the slope is stable or safe. 

    On southerly slopes, expect to find newly formed wind slabs that are soft and could be very sensitive to the weight of a single person. Yesterday, these slabs were forming on south-facing slopes and in wind-protected areas. Today, expect these slabs to have a more distinct stiff slab character, be over a foot thick, and be reactive to skiing, walking, or climbing. 

    On westerly slopes, expect to find areas of deeper, older wind slabs from the April 4th storm, especially in narrow or deep gullies, where a terrain trap could increase the consequences of triggering an avalanche. In general, these older wind slabs are bonding well to the old crust, but triggering an avalanche on this layer on west or northwest aspects is not impossible. 

Avalanche Discussion

Today’s avalanche problem will be variable based on your location, aspect (direction), and elevation. Careful terrain evaluation, constant stability assessments, and good terrain management will all be important for traveling safely in avalanche terrain today. On a weekend day with nice weather and a possibility for human-triggered avalanches, consider not only the snowpack, but the consequences of people above you and below you in the terrain. 

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts. 

Help avalanche researchers! The Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Avalanche Research Program at Simon Fraser University, and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research are researching how skiers, snowmobilers, snowshoers, ice climbers, and anyone else who travels in the backcountry interpret avalanche forecast information. Completing this survey will take approximately 20 minutes. Thank you!

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