Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche conditions are dangerous and complex. Triggering an avalanche in the new snow could trigger a much larger avalanche in the older hard snow. Conservative terrain choices and careful route finding are critical to mitigate the risk of avalanches. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    What and where is it:New wind slabs from 6+ inches of light-density snow are expected to form throughout the day. These new slabs could be sensitive to your weight and have the potential to avalanche naturally, especially later in the day. Triggering a smaller wind slab avalanche has the potential to step down into deeper weak layers and create a much larger and more dangerous avalanche. Larger, more destructive wind slabs have formed from about 30 inches of new snow and high winds over the past week. Expect to find the larger, older wind slabs hidden underneath soft new snow across north, east, and south aspects. 

    How can you recognize it: Look for smooth, rounded snow slopes in wind-protected areas where the wind has worked to build new, softer wind slabs. Shooting cracks under your feet, hollow-sounding snow, and deep drifts of softer snow are signs of a wind slab avalanche. It is possible to be traveling on a harder, dangerous wind slab without obvious warning signs. 

    How can you manage it:Travel strategically in avalanche terrain and work to reduce your exposure and time spent underneath large, connected snow slopes where dangerous wind slabs could be sitting above you. If you are uncertain about the sensitivity or location of the avalanche problem, consider an alternate route.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    What and where is it:Old hard slabs are sitting on a buried layer of weak snow could be triggered by finding a thin spot in the snowpack or by the weight of a smaller avalanche. This poor snowpack structure has been found specifically in the Summit Snowfields, gully entrances on the south face of Tuckerman Ravine, and the south aspects of Huntington Ravine and it likely exists in other similar terrain.  Additionally, on February 4th a very large avalanche on the Gulf on Slides Southern Snowfields stepped down to this layer and the possibility of this happening elsewhere remains. Note that one of the places this avalanche problem exists is just to the north of where the Lion Head Trail leads to Split Rock on the summit cone and on the Summer Lion Head Trail.

    How can you recognize it: Identifying this avalanche problem is difficult without digging a deep pit, as there will be no visible clues. "Whumping" sounds as a warning are unlikely, and the slopes will likely appear unreactive. How can you manage it:Understanding exactly where this problem exists in the terrain will be very challenging. Travel strategically and make conservative terrain decisions while carefully assessing the snowpack.

Avalanche Discussion

Triggering a very large, high-consequence avalanche is possible today. In many areas, it is likely older persistent slabs have become increasingly stubborn to trigger, however, the consequence remains deadly. Because of this, effective terrain management is absolutely critical if you choose to travel in avalanche terrain today. Reducing time spent in an avalanche path, minimizing your exposure to avalanche problems overhead, and traveling one at a time are a few ways to reduce your risk. 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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