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 a large avalanche of wind drifted snow 1 - 3 feet thick is possible today on steep east-facing, north-facing, and south-facing slopes. An avalanche will be more likely where the wind has formed drifts from the recent snow. Identify areas of concern by looking for a smooth, pillow-like snow surface. You can reduce your risk of triggering an avalanche by avoiding steep slopes loaded with wind drifted snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Large, human-triggered avalanches are possible on steep snow slopes that face north, east, and south. Wind slabs vary in size, hardness, and distribution. In general, crust layers and density changes in the top 1 - 3 feet of the snowpack are the layers of most concern. 

    Dig down to assess the stability of these interfaces while understanding that variability exists across the terrain. Practice safe travel techniques and good terrain management by traveling one-at-a-time in avalanche terrain and reduce overhead hazard with careful, strategic route planning.

Avalanche Discussion

In addition to bigger storm totals from last week, several smaller snow events and westerly winds over the past week have helped to fill in more avalanche terrain and contribute to ongoing wind slab development. 

Stability assessments from across the east side of Mount Washington have shown that these slabs are stubborn to propagate, but often have clean shear qualities and can produce weak layer failures in an isolated situation. Public and Forecaster field observations show that the most reactive wind slabs appear to exist in very sheltered terrain features such as underneath cliffs or rock buttresses, where softer snow has collected with less wind-affect. In addition to these sheltered areas, steep starting zones and entrances to some of the bigger ski terrain look to be holding thicker, harder wind slabs that may likely be reactive to a human-trigger. 

Deeper instabilities still exist in the snowpack at middle and upper elevations, however they are getting buried deeper over time and the slabs on top of these instabilities are getting harder with a greater ability to bridge the weight of a potential trigger. We will continue to keep an eye on these layers, especially with extremely cold temperatures this week. It isn’t impossible to find an unlucky thin spot that triggers a deeper instability or to trigger a smaller avalanche that steps down into a deeper instability. 

Remember: when avalanches are the question, terrain choice is the answer.

 

The Lion Head Summer Trail is CLOSED due to increased avalanche hazard. The Lion Head Winter Route is OPEN and the most direct route to the Mount Washington Summit from Pinkham Notch. 

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