Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago.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

Rain and warm temperatures will increase the possibility of wet avalanches. Use extra caution around steep slopes where the snow is soft, wet, deep, and could slide easily on an icy layer buried below. Even a small wet avalanche can be highly dangerous and destructive from its heavy weight.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    What and where is it: Wet avalanches from saturated snow sitting on top of a buried ice crust are most likely on north, east, and south-facing slopes above 3000 feet. Incoming rain today is expected to destabilize snow near the surface which could cause wet slab or loose wet avalanches. How can you recognize it: Rain falling on snow is all the information you need to put wet avalanches at top-of-mind today. Look out for areas of deeper snow that are saturated with water and may want to slide easily on hard, icy layers buried below. How can you manage it: Wet avalanche release can be highly unpredictable. Give steep slopes a wide margin for error today and avoid traveling on slopes where the wet snow on the surface is soft and deep.

Avalanche Discussion

Warm temperatures will persist and incoming rain today and tonight will have the opportunity to destabilize the snowpack above a hard crust that is buried in many areas. As water has the opportunity to drain through the snowpack and run along this crust, loose wet and wet slab avalanches are possible. On March 26th, a large wet slab avalanche occurred in Dodge’s Drop. Other very steep terrain features with a similar snowpack could have the opportunity to release today. Over the past several days, many areas were observed to be scoured down to the icy rain crust from March 18th. While avalanches are unlikely where this crust is exposed, there are plenty of other areas where recent snow has accumulated on top of this layer - this will be the snowpack of greatest concern today. Make consistent observations to identify when you have found deeper, softer snow that could be unstable as rain saturates and destabilizes it.

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation on our website or in the new Avy phone app of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.

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