Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Triggering an avalanche 1-2 feet deep is possible today in areas with recent windblown snow. The likelihood of triggering an avalanche slowly decreases through the day, though the possibility remains. Be alert for the consequences of triggering a slide and make your terrain choices accordingly. Long sliding falls will be possible where the wind has stripped any new snow, leaving a refrozen snow surface after yesterday’s warming. Extreme wind and cold will reduce your margins of safety.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The combination of new snow and wind has built wind slabs at mid and upper elevations, and will continue building through the morning hours. Due to very high wind speeds this morning, you are more likely to find fresh slabs well below ridgelines, lower down in steep terrain. Sensitivity to triggering will be directly related to wind exposure, with wind sheltered slabs being more sensitive. As the day progresses, wind slabs with exposure to the wind will become much more stubborn.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday’s storm started warm, with several hours of light freezing rain in the early morning hours before turning back to snow as a strong cold front turned precipitation back to snow at around 11am. Temperatures warmed to freezing and above at ravine level, wetting the top 2-3cm surface snow which is now refrozen to a breakable crust. The summit of Mt.Washington reached a high of 28 F. The summit also recorded 2.7 inches of snow (0.45” of SWE) for the day, most of which fell as snow in the afternoon and evening. The 2.7” of new snow on the summit, almost 5” at Hermit Lake and possibly any prior existing snow up in the Alpine Garden are the raw materials for the extreme northwest wind driving today’s wind slab avalanche problem. 

Information on all US avalanche fatalities can be found here with details and accident reports appearing as they are submitted to the CAIC.  An interview with Simon Trautman of the National Avalanche Center on the recent cluster of fatal avalanche accidents can be found here. 

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

 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 here. 

Listen to the weekly MWAC Outreach Podcast provided by Ski The Whites. Discussions include snowpack information, weekend outlook, and general avalanche related info. 

Thursday, March 4 @ 7PM -Avalanche Awareness class with Al Mandell - A Free Zoom Webinar.

The Harvard Cabin is open for camping only with no entry allowed inside the cabin. There is no access to the breezeway at HoJos.

Please Remember:

  • Safe travel in avalanche terrain requires training and experience. This forecast is just one tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. You control your own risk by choosing where, when, and how you travel.
  • Avalanche danger may change when actual weather differs from the higher summits forecast.

For more information contact the US Forest Service Snow Rangers, AMC visitor services staff at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, or the caretakers at Hermit Lake Shelters or seasonally at the Harvard Cabin (generally December 1 through March 31). The Mount Washington Ski Patrol is also available on spring weekends.

 

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