Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow and wind from Friday increase the chance of finding and triggering a small avalanche today. Watch out for deeper snow drifts on easterly and southerly aspects where cliffs and steep slopes have protected snow from the wind. Even being caught in a small avalanche could have serious consequences in steep terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Yesterday’s high elevation snow has collected on steep easterly and southerly aspects and formed thin wind slabs. Slabs may be stubborn or unreactive in sensitivity to the weight of a person. Pay close attention to the switch between freezing and thawing temperatures today, which could change the sensitivity of the wind slabs. Investigate the bond between new and old snow before committing to a slope and watch for shooting cracks as a sign of instability.

Avalanche Discussion

A cold start to the day will eventually give way to warming temperatures, sunshine, and decreasing winds. This classic diurnal cycle means that snow will behave differently in the morning when it is cold than it does in the afternoon when it warms. Expect snow surfaces to stay colder for longer on northerly tilting slopes and for warming to occur more quickly and for more of the day on southerly tilting slopes. 

Though generally safe avalanche conditions exist today, it is not out of the question for a skier or climber to find and trigger a wind slab in a sheltered location in the morning when the snow is still cold, or as the snow surface heats up with increasing temperatures and sunshine. 

In the late afternoon, as sunny aspects begin to be shaded, expect the snow surface to begin to refreeze, making for more challenging and dangerous travel. This refrozen surface hazard can be mitigated by appropriate timing, mountaineering equipment, and a plan B. 

Springtime hazards are active and ever-changing with the onset of spring. If you are in the mountains today be watching for: 

Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the forecasters at MWAC. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations.

  • The John Sherburne Ski Trail is closed ½ way down from the top at the fifth cut-over.  Please cross over to the Tuckerman Ravine trail at the yellow rope and walk down the hiking trail.
  • The Harvard Cabin is closed for the season.

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

Regions covered