Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Avalanche conditions are very dangerous. Human-triggered avalanches and naturally-occurring avalanches are likely above 3000 feet in elevation on all aspects.  Avalanche activity has the potential to be large and destructive with the capability of burying people. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Expect to find large wind slabs on all aspects above 3000 feet in elevation today. Throughout the day, wind slabs will have the opportunity to become larger, more sensitive to triggering, with a poor strong-over-weak structure. Expect conditions to be changing and dynamic and challenging to safely assess due to poor visibility.

    As winds shift to west and northwest this afternoon and steadily increase in speed, expect large, dangerous wind slabs to form on east-facing and south-facing terrain. Areas like Tuckerman Ravine, Gulf of Slides, and the Summer Lion Head trail are examples of areas that could see destructive naturally-occurring avalanches through today and tonight.

Avalanche Discussion

With 11 inches of dense new snow recorded at Hermit Lake by 7am this morning, continued heavy snowfall is expected to continue through the day with a shifting wind direction and increasing wind speed.  Though size is not expected to be larger than D2, we expect wind slabs today to be sensitive to triggers with an increased probability of natural avalanches in many areas. There is the potential for east-facing and south-facing avalanche terrain to naturally avalanche, reload, and naturally avalanche again as winds increase and transport snow through the afternoon into tonight. 

Safely navigating the avalanche problem today in steep terrain will likely be challenging or impossible with a dynamic, changing snowpack and poor visibility that will make accurate and safe snow assessments a dangerous proposition today. 

Regions covered