Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wet snow avalanches are still possible today as rain and melt water drain deep into the snowpack. Wet avalanches are difficult to predict. Careful terrain selection and awareness of a warm, wet snowpack will be important, especially through the morning. As temperatures drop and the snow surface refreezes, the consequences of slipping or falling in steep terrain could be devastating. Crampons, an ice axe, a helmet, and mountaineering skills can help you manage this risk.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    What and where is it: Rain and above freezing temperatures have increased the potential for wet slab and wet loose avalanches on all aspects. 

    How can you recognize it: A wet, soft snowpack is a clear sign of potentially unstable snow. Digging into the snow to look for how deeply water has saturated the snow and how that water is interacting with old crust layers can tell you more about the potential for larger, more destructive wet slabs. 

    How can you manage it: Steep snow-covered slopes should be treated with caution today. Wet slabs can have limited warning signs about instabilities below the snow surface. Wet avalanches are challenging to forecast and difficult to manage, so consider keeping terrain choices simple, as wet snow debris is heavy, dense, and destructive. 

Avalanche Discussion

Summit temperatures have remained above freezing for over 24 hours with temperatures yesterday rising into the mid-40s on the Mount Washington Summit and rising into the mid-50s at middle elevations. In addition, over 0.5 inches of rain has been introduced into the snowpack. Combined, this creates a stability concern on steep snow slopes as liquid water drains down through the snowpack. As temperatures fall throughout the day and water has additional time to drain through the snow, the chance of wet avalanches may decrease. Remember that wet slab avalanches are especially hard to predict and the newly wet snowpack after a long, cold winter deserves respect today as it continues to adjust to warm, wet weather. While wet slabs are the most serious concern, do not underestimate the destructive force of triggering a smaller, wet loose avalanche or large wet sluff of loose snow in steep terrain. While this is not likely to bury you, it may be heavy, powerful, and entrain a lot of snow on the way down. Falling temperatures and extreme winds could refreeze the snow surface later this afternoon, leading to hard, icy conditions. Many people have been seriously injured and killed by falls on refrozen snow surfaces. Mountaineering skills, experience, and tools (crampons, ice axe, helmet) can help reduce the risk of a fall in steep terrain. 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.

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