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

Snow that has precipitated earlier in the week can be found on the middle and upper elevation slopes, in the form of wind drifted slabs. Some steep east-facing slopes may have isolated slabs up to two feet thick capable of producing a large avalanche. Identifying slopes that have been loaded with fresh snow and avoiding them, will make you less vulnerable to today’s avalanche problem.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Small amounts of snow (~5 inches) over the past five days with moderate and strong westerly winds have created slabs up to two feet thick on east-facing terrain. The middle and upper elevation steep slopes is where you are most likely to find drifted snow capable of producing small avalanches. The wind hardened or sun-crusted snow may have softer and less dense snow below the surface that could act as a catalyst for today's avalanche problem. 

    Wind drifted slabs in our terrain seem to linger in duration when fed smaller amounts of near daily precipitation. Today, triggering a large avalanche in newly formed slabs is less likely, especially on south aspects. The sensitivity of drifted slabs is trending to be unreactive in most locations. Some isolated areas of direct wind loading, unavalanched slopes, or tapering slabs with poor snowpack structure may harbor the best potential for avalanches. 

Avalanche Discussion

With desirably clear and warm weather many recreationists frequented the higher summits and traveled into avalanche terrain. Observations from people finding evidence of past avalanches in places like King Ravine and the Southern Snowfields, align with the larger and widespread cycle we had Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Significant debris, some littered with branches, is still noticeable in runout zones of confining ski gullys.

Periodic sunshine from the last two days has capped the southern aspects with a breakable and unsupportive melt/freeze crust. Areas lower in elevation have gained prolonged warmth, melting the surface snowpack and has put into remission the persistent slab avalanche problem. Today you can find a trace amount of new snow on top of yesterday's sun crust which will be loud and punchy underfoot. The variability of our snowpack is very high and inconsistent throughout different aspects and elevation zones.

Please help us and your fellow skiers, riders, and climbers by submitting any pertinent or interesting observations to our website. 

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