Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

While you are unlikely to trigger a large avalanche today, you could find areas of unstable snow in sheltered terrain at middle elevations in eastern aspects as temperatures rise. Look out for deeper snow or white pillowy snow to identify these areas. Traveling on the icy scoured surface will limit your exposure to potential avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Wind slabs at middle elevations are likely to be small, firm, stubborn, and isolated due to the high winds they were created by. These have been found in sheltered terrain features in east-facing aspects and the previous cold temperatures may have harbored some lingering instabilities. Summer Lion Head Traverse is a sheltered, southeast terrain feature where forecasters found a wind slab formed from new snow on the 29th. 

    Today, above freezing temperatures and mixed precipitation at middle elevations could increase the sensitivity of these slabs. Dig down to the old melt-freeze crust to evaluate the sensitivity of these wind slabs before committing to traveling across them. You could also consider traveling in areas where the snow is scoured and wind textured, as triggering an avalanche there will be unlikely.

    2/29 Wind Slab on Summer Lion Head Traverse

Avalanche Discussion

Today you will find mixed precipitation, warming temperatures, and lower winds across all elevations today. 

Currently, middle elevations harbor small wind slabs that remain a concern in sheltered terrain. Today the mixed precipitation is unlikely to add to the avalanche problem. The biggest concern is that initial warming could increase the sensitivity of middle elevation wind slabs.  

At upper elevations, precipitation is expected to start as snow, transition to a wintery mix, and then to rain. Because of the low forecasted totals we have not listed a problem at upper elevations. The low wind speeds tend to not build large slabs, and while you may find a small wind slab, it would be thin and not widely distributed. With above freezing temperatures at middle elevations, any transported snow will likely melt into the snow surface and not add to any problems. 

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts. 

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