Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You could find areas of wind-drifted snow on easterly and southerly aspects above 3000 ft. Watch out for areas of pillowly, smooth surfaces where new snow may slide on the hard surface below.

Springtime hazards like open holes and undermined snow still exist and may be hidden just beneath the new snow. Evaluate your travel routes carefully and use mountaineering skills and tools to travel on the firm, refrozen snowpack and avoid a long sliding fall. 

The final daily avalanche forecast will be tomorrow, Wednesday, April 8th. We will continue providing up-to-date snowpack information with a General Avalanche Information bulletin for the remainder of the season.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    What and where is it: Small, new wind slabs may be found on steep east and south-facing slopes above 3000 feet. Snow totals will be increasing throughout the day and new snow may be falling on small patches of yesterday's snow or on the refrozen, old snow surface. The likelihood of encountering larger windslabs will increase throughout the day as snow totals and winds intensify this evening. 

    How can you recognize it: Look for drifts of smooth snow that appear soft and bright white in contrast to the old, hard snow. Use your hand, or a shovel to assess how easily the snow slides on top of the refrozen layer or has bonded to any patches of newer snow from yesterday. How can you manage it:If you are traveling through snow deeper than your boot top, assess the sensitivity by using a hand shear, or shovel test. Travel on the old, refrozen surface to avoid the avalanche problem. The consequences of even a slip in steep terrain on the hard old surface are severe. Being able to self-arrest is unlikely given the density of the refrozen snowpack.

Avalanche Discussion

Light snow and decreasing wind speeds this morning may simply blanket terrain covering the hard, refrozen bed surface, any small pockets of yesterday’s new snow, as well as rocks, holes, and other spring hazards that have appeared over the last week. New snow may not initially bond well to the old hard surface so be prepared to manage sluff until winds drive slab formation.

As snow intensifies this afternoon, and wind speeds ramp into the evening and overnight, expect avalanche hazard to increase. If the Presidentials see the higher end of forecast totals (4 inches) you may find drifts of snow deeper than the top of your boot. Be prepared to assess changing conditions into this afternoon and evening. The height of instability will likely be after dark and into tomorrow as snow tapers around 8 or 9pm and winds increase out of the northwest. 

Springtime hazards should not be out of mind today. Undermined snow, open holes and glide cracks may be just barely hidden under the new snow, but not enough snow to erase those problems. A long sliding fall will be difficult to self-arrest today given the refrozen, old snow. Use crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet to mitigate the risk of falling in steep terrain today.

MWAC’s 2026 Spring Fundraiser is live. The snow may be melting on Mount Washington, but the work of keeping people informed, prepared, and safer in the mountains continues year-round. Your support helps make that work possible for next season and beyond.

This Friday at 7:30 p.m., Ledge Brewing in Intervale hosts the premiere of The Proving Ground, a short film that confronts one of the most serious hazards on Mount Washington: the long sliding fall. We hope to see you there.

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