Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A few inches of new snow and west winds may be enough to form fresh drifts in middle and upper elevations capable of burying a person if triggered. Wind will continue to drift snow, building larger drifts through the day. Triggering even a small slide at upper elevations could be dangerous on the icy wind scoured surface below. Avalanche danger today is MODERATE.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New wind slabs formed overnight may be found this morning on north facing, and cross loaded steep terrain, though the size of any new wind slabs is uncertain due to somewhat limited fetch from the south for some locations. Target areas for these wind slabs include many of the gullies in the Great Gulf, Kings Ravine, Hillman’s Highway, and the north facing wall of Huntington Ravine. West wind today will build new wind slabs in the typical hot-spot areas in east facing ravines including Tuckerman Ravine Headwall, Gulf of Slides and Central Gully in Huntington Ravine.  Given the relatively light-moderate wind speeds overnight and today, new slabs will be more on the reactive side of sensitivity, though the question of size remains. Watch for areas of drifting snow and proceed cautiously. 

Avalanche Discussion

Some level of uncertainty exists in today’s forecast of the overall size of new wind slab development. Hourly records from the summit show the bulk of the light density snow fell while the wind was from the south building wind slabs in NW-NE facing terrain. Available snow for  today’s west wind will be limited to mainly new snow falling today and residual snow from last night. Slabs of wind drifted snow developing today in east facing terrain could be anywhere from small to large (D1-D2).

Regions covered