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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Highlights

Trace amounts of new snow have been blown into drifts on eastern facing slopes in the middle elevations. Wind drifted snow will contrast in appearance and hardness to the old surface that it sits atop of, making it easy to distinguish. If you are caught in an avalanche today it will be relatively small but capable of sending a person on a dangerous high-speed fall.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Continued westerly winds and trace amounts of new snow have created shallow slabs on east-facing slopes in the middle elevations. These drifted slabs may be isolated and  stubborn to triggering, but if failure occurs expect a fall that will be difficult to control. The rain from Sunday into Monday have frozen into a hard icy surface that is wind-swept and discolored. You can identify the old snow by the lustrous glazed appearance, dirty coloration, and hardness that requires swinging an ice tool to penetrate. The contrasting new snow will be bright white, capable of being ski through, and rounded in appearance. 

Avalanche Discussion

Blown snow has found its place on the steep eastern aspects of the middle elevations. Drifted slabs sit atop a snowpack that has frozen smooth and slick after rains from Sunday and Monday. Recently deposited wind drifts will be shallow, bright white in appearance, and stubborn to triggering. If you ski onto one of these slabs it has the potential to avalanche, knocking you off your feet and sending you in a trajectory that is likely undesirable. 

The weather outlook has us anticipating a powerful winter storm from Friday night into Saturday. Cooler temperatures at our mountain elevations has us expecting mostly snow with a chance of mixed precipitation in some lower valley locations. The refrozen old snow surface is likely to become an avalanche concern as wind drifted snow accumulates on top. Saturday we could see another avalanche cycle where unintended human triggering is almost inevitable in steep terrain.

If you are entering mountainous slopes today bring your companion rescue equipment and tools for self arrest such as crampons and ice axes. Microspikes offer very little in the way of traction on these refrozen slopes. Falling on even a minor incline can result in injury.  

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to submit observations of snow and avalanche conditions, both inside and outside our avalanche forecast area. Please keep them coming.

The Lion Head Summer Trail is closed for the season due to avalanche risk. The Lion Head Winter Route is open.

Regions covered