Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Despite low avalanche danger, the possibility exists that you could trigger an avalanche in wind-protected areas today. Areas to assess will be pillowy, wind-drifted snow below ridgelines, cliffs, or in narrow gullies above 3000 feet in elevation on steep east-facing terrain. Traveling on firm, textured snow surfaces will limit your exposure.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    What and where is it:

    Northwest wind continued to move snow yesterday, which should keep wind slabs on your mind on steep east and south-facing aspects as the possibility remains for you to trigger an avalanche today.

    How can you recognize it: 

    Look for rounded, pillowy snow to identify today’s problem. This bright white snow may be in contrast to textured snow surfaces around it, but it may also have some visible wind effects. Blowing snow at ridgelines, cracking under your feet, or softer snow that is deeper than the top of your boot are all warning signs of the avalanche problem.

    How can you manage it:

    Today your best tool will be your eyes. Look to identify wind-loaded areas and assess if that is the terrain you want to move through. To limit your exposure to avalanche hazards, travel on wind-scoured surfaces and very firm wind-textured areas. As these wind slabs are isolated, you will need to assess each one individually as you should not expect them to behave the same. Hand shears and column tests will help you to understand how the snow is bonding to the surface beneath. Using a ski pole, probe, or your boot penetration will help you to assess the size. Features that may be harboring a more sensitive wind slab could be underneath ridgelines, cliffs, convex features, or in narrow gullies.

    Photo: Charlotte MacDonald

    Potential areas in Right Gully that could harbor more reactive wind slabs

Avalanche Discussion

Low avalanche danger does not mean no avalanche danger, and today is one of those Low hazard ratings where human-triggered avalanches are a possibility. They remain unlikely considering the whole forecast area as these possible avalanches are small and isolated, however, they may carry higher consequences depending on the terrain. 

Forecasters found wind slabs to be isolated and unreactive in Tuckerman Ravine yesterday, while finding a more reactive, but still stubborn, wind slab on Summer Lion Head Traverse. Locations in Tuckerman Ravine, specifically around Sluice and Right Gully that had pillowy snow with visual wind effects. These are the types of areas to take time to assess as you move through terrain.

Today is about features, as these may be the areas harboring more sensitive wind slabs from hours of extreme winds. Features that may have sheltered the snow from the wind will be areas underneath cliffs, below ridgelines, in narrow gullies, or steep convexities. You may find these areas to be incredibly wind-affected and unreactive, while others may remain softer and slightly more reactive. 

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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