Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago.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

Even with generally safe avalanche conditions, you may trigger an avalanche today.  While such a slide would more likely be on the smaller side, it is still possible to entrain enough snow to bury a person. Watch for isolated pockets of unstable softer snow, or firm snow over softer snow at middle elevations which escaped the recent high NW wind. At upper elevations, expect very hard snow packed by the wind or scoured to a previous bed surface, creating a long sliding fall hazard. Avalanche danger today is LOW at all elevations.

The Winter Lion Head Route is now the best option to climb to the summit from Pinkham Notch with wind slab avalanche hazards on the summer trail near treeline. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Small and large wind slabs found in most of the terrain will be stubborn, though they remain a concern. Triggering one of these wind slabs is unlikely but not impossible. Smaller isolated pockets of softer snow may will be more reactive, and will be easy to identify, generally found near the sides of avalanche paths or under terrain roll-overs. Pockets of softer snow capped by a layer of wind affected harder snow will also be more reactive and more challenging to identify. Evaluate carefully by digging with your hand, shovel or even ski pole to identify areas of an upside down snow pack. 

    Lip , Tuckerman Ravine. 1/26/2021

Avalanche Discussion

Skies cleared yesterday to provide visual confirmation that wind over the weekend pushed the hazard rating up, then back down again. In Tuckerman Ravine, wind eroded signs of avalanche activity were present in Left Gully, Chute and possibly Center Bowl. Avalanche debris was reported under the Lip on Sunday. It’s likely that a natural avalanche cycle occurred sometime during the day on Saturday, before stability increased as the wind ramped up Saturday night and Sunday.  What remained on Monday is a snowpack largely packed and sculpted by the wind in most open spaces. 

Overall, the terrain is much more filled in with snow, with 85cm of snow at the Hermit Lake Manual Snow Plot. Looking forward, snow showers Tuesday night into Wednesday and beyond will increase the hazard rating if we reach the upper end of the possible snow totals, which could be 5” new snow. 

 

Details on daily snowfall totals, precipitation type, total depth of snow, and other information can be found on our page devoted to snow study plot data. Click here to check it out. Data collected hourly by the new automated weather station at Hermit Lake can be found hereand graphically here.

Recent snowpack and avalanche observations can be found here. Your observations help improve our forecast product. Please take a moment and submit a photo or two and a brief description of snow and avalanche conditions that you see in the field.

The Harvard Cabin is open for camping only with no entry allowed inside the cabin.

Please Remember:

  • Safe travel in avalanche terrain requires training and experience. This forecast is just one tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. You control your own risk by choosing where, when, and how you travel.
  • Avalanche danger may change when actual weather differs from the higher summits forecast.
  • For more information contact the US Forest Service Snow Rangers, AMC visitor services staff at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, or the caretakers at Hermit Lake Shelters or seasonally at the Harvard

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