Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche conditions are very dangerous. Large, destructive, and naturally occurring avalanches are very likely across northerly, easterly, and southerly terrain. Avalanches could run far into flat runout zones that previously seemed safe. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3.5

    What and where is it:Extreme winds will rapidly load yesterday’s new snow onto east-facing, north-facing, and south-facing aspects. Large or very large destructive avalanches are very likely to occur. Steep avalanche terrain has the ability to avalanche multiple times throughout the day as slopes continue to be reloaded with dense, wind-drifted snow. Eastern Ravines including Tuckerman Ravine, Gulf of Slides, Huntington Ravine, and the Summer Lion Head Trail are in the bullseye of avalanche danger today. 

    How can you recognize it: Intense blowing snow will be the most obvious and important sign of high avalanche danger.

    How can you manage it:Avoiding avalanche terrain today above 3000’ is the best strategy. Use your map to identify avalanche terrain and give it a wide margin due to the possibility of avalanches traveling far into flat runout zones that are often considered safe such as the Tuckerman Ravine Rescue Cache or the Hillman’s Highway Historic Runout.

Avalanche Discussion

Today is not the day to travel strategically in Presidential Range avalanche terrain or try and outsmart the avalanche problem. Avalanches today are likely to be very large and could be highly destructive and unsurvivable if you are caught. It is worth noting that rescue teams may not be able to safely enter avalanche terrain today in the case of an emergency. 

Extreme winds will rapidly load and redistribute snow, creating large strong-over-weak wind slabs on many aspects above 3000’. While the largest, most dangerous avalanche conditions will be on easterly terrain, you could still find large sensitive wind slabs on the western half of the compass rose that were formed yesterday. Observations from yesterday showed reactive snow in low elevations, below 3000’. While avalanches in these areas are expected to be much smaller and less distributed, they could be enough to cause a fall or bury you in a terrain trap. 

While we do not provide an avalanche forecast for outside of the Presidential Range, avalanches can still happen in other zones across the White Mountains and Vermont on steep, open snow slopes over 30 degrees in steepness. 

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.

Regions covered