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

You could trigger an avalanche in wind drifted snow large enough to bury a person. The most likely place to find this hazard is on steep south, east and north facing slopes. Areas of deeper snow and shooting cracks under your feet may indicate the hazard but careful snowpack assessment and cautious route-finding will be necessary for travel in steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It is possible to trigger a wind slab avalanche formed by recent snow and strong winds over the past several days. The most likely places to find these wind slabs will be between 3,000 and 5,000 feet of elevation on south, east, and north-facing slopes.  An example of this area of concern is the Summer Lion Head Trail. 

    The greatest chance for triggering an avalanche today will be within the fresh wind slabs created from the 5 inches of new snow over the last 48 hours. These slabs will be predominantly found on easterly aspects. In some areas, they may be large enough to bury a person. Older slabs on these same aspects are slowly trending towards stability under continued cold temperatures but should not be ruled out as an avalanche problem. By triggering a small fresh slab, the possibility exists that the weight of the avalanche could trigger a larger, more stubborn slab below, creating a much larger avalanche with far greater consequences.

    If you are experiencing deeper boot penetration, observing shooting cracks, or finding areas of more consolidated snow, you have identified the avalanche problem, and careful assessment of the snowpack will be necessary before committing to steep slopes.

    Hand shears and shovel tests will help assess the stability of the recent slabs, but you will need to dig down to assess the stability of the older slabs.

    (2/18/2024)

    Summer Lion Head Trail

    Photo: Kate Moynihan

Avalanche Discussion

After a long dry spell with very little new snow, an active weather pattern has produced a little new snow each day for the last six days on the higher summits. Yesterday, 1.8 inches of new snow was recorded on the Mt. Washington summit, making a six-day total of 15.7 inches.

In all avalanche terrain, expect to find a snowpack that is variable by elevation and aspect. At lower elevations, less wind and overall less snow will limit the size of any avalanche problem. Wind slabs will be smaller, softer, and potentially more reactive. Easterly aspects at middle elevation are our primary concern and where the wind slabs capable of producing the largest avalanches will be found.

Keep in mind that while carefully assessing the structure of wind slabs to determine stability is one way to reduce your risk of triggering an avalanche, another is to simply give them a few days to settle and stabilize. 

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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