Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Wet snow on steep slopes may slide naturally or from a human trigger. These slides could be 1-2 feet thick at middle elevations and large enough to bury a skier or climber. Choose terrain other than steep snow-loaded gullies in east-facing ravines to avoid the chance of an unpredictable large avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Prior to this storm, isolated pockets of 6-24 inch thick wind slabs were found at middle and upper elevations. These same wind slabs, now with the added weight from 5 inches of new snow overnight and around 0.5 inches of rain today will be capable of sliding naturally or from a human trigger. 

    Hotspots for the largest avalanches, with the greatest concern are the east-facing gullies at middle elevations. Left Gully and Chute in Tuckerman Ravine, Central Gully in Huntington Ravine harbored the thickest known pockets of wind slabs, resting on a widespread melt/freeze crust  Due to the unpredictable nature of wet avalanches, the best travel advice would be to avoid the snow loaded steep gullies in these ravines. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    The 4-5 inches of snow overnight has been wetted from freezing rain and with additional rain today this snow may slide on steep slopes. A human can act as a trigger to get the snow moving underfoot, or the snow may slide naturally if enough rain saturates the new snow. Wet loose avalanches will be small and generally only consequential in very steep terrain where it can cause a stumble or fall. 

Avalanche Discussion

The main factor driving the avalanche hazard rating is the chance for D1-D2 avalanches from the thick wind slabs - now wet slabs found in eastern ravines. Outside of these isolated, specific, large wind slabs, the snowpack heading into this storm event included thin wind slabs peppering the terrain and a strong melt-freeze crust bed surface. MWAC Forecasters believe it is unlikely that the weight of the new snow and rain today will be enough to destabilize this crust except for isolated areas where water courses flow heavily, such as the Lip in Tuckerman Ravine.

The Lion Head Summer Trail is OPEN due to reduced avalanche risk, and is currently the least hazardous, direct route to the summit of Mt Washington from Pinkham Notch. 

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