Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Stubborn, hard wind slab avalanches may be possible to trigger on steep slopes today following raging winds over the weekend. In isolated areas, these stubborn slabs could be large, even in the D2.5 range. You may find pockets of softer and possibly more reactive slabs at middle and lower elevations that were less exposed to howling NW winds. In most areas of the terrain, you are likely to encounter very hard snow with long sliding falls a distinct possibility on hard snow or on the exposed Jan. 16 crust.  Uncertainty in the rating exists due to poor visibility over the past 48 hours.

The Winter Lion Head Route is now the best option to climb to the summit from Pinkham Notch due to steep avalanche prone slopes on the summer trail near treeline.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Twenty hours of NW wind over 80 mph redistributed the low density snow that fell over the past week. Expect large but stubborn wind slabs in lee and cross loaded terrain at mid and upper elevations. Strong wind events amplify spatial variability in the terrain. The generally stubborn nature of these hard slabs has led to a low probability but high consequence avalanche problem.  

    Smaller pockets of less wind affected snow may be found at mid elevations in sheltered terrain and may be more reactive to a human trigger. High wind events often result in significant scouring, particularly in the higher start zones of available avalanche paths, but also lower in the ravines in locations exposed to the wind.

    View into Tuckerman Ravine at 6:50 am, Monday, January 25. Photo by AMC Caretaker Sebastien Dawson.

Avalanche Discussion

The 24” of new snow that fell last week has been affected by 15 hours of NW wind gusting over 100 mph. Middle and upper start zones will be either scoured or loaded with a stubborn hard wind slab. Typically, strong wind scours the upper start zones and builds wind slabs further down into the terrain. As an example, a human triggered avalanche in the Lower Snowfields in 2013 occurred following a prolonged period of 100 mph winds.  At mid and lower elevations including Crawford Notch, sheltered pockets of more reactive wind slabs likely exist. If you are out today and see any possible evidence of recent avalanche activity, please take a picture and send us an observation. Debris is likely to be wind eroded and barely recognizable.

Details on daily snowfall totals, precipitation type, total depth of snow, and other information can be found on our page devoted to snow study plot data. Click here to check it out. Data collected hourly by the new automated weather station at Hermit Lake can be found hereand graphically here.

Recent snowpack and avalanche observations can be found here. Your observations help improve our forecast product. Please take a moment and submit a photo or two and a brief description of snow and avalanche conditions that you see in the field.

The Harvard Cabin is open for camping only with no entry allowed inside the cabin.

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.

Regions covered