Avalanche forecast

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

You could trigger an avalanche in new, wind-drifted snow on steep snow slopes above 3000’. Watch out for wind-sheltered areas on north-facing, east-facing, and south-facing slopes where new snow has collected into softer drifts. Poor visibility will impact your ability to assess the snowpack in avalanche terrain safely.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    What and where is it:New wind slabs could be found above 3000’ on steep slopes that face north, east, or south, including Tuckerman Ravine, Gulf of Slides, and the Summer Lion Head Trail. In steep, wind-protected areas, new wind slabs could be over 12 inches thick, large enough to bury you, and triggered by your weight alone. 

    Old, thicker, and harder wind slabs that are much harder to trigger could be found above 3000’ in isolated areas on steep slopes that face east and south.

    How can you recognize it: Watch out for intense blowing snow and areas of softer, drifted snow collecting in steep and wind-sheltered locations like below ridgelines, underneath cliffs, and in narrow gullies. Increased boot or ski penetration, shooting cracks under your feet, and plumes of wind-blown snow are all signs of a wind slab that could be unstable. 

    Old, harder wind slabs are isolated in nature and will be hard to identify without digging into the snow. Look for buried layers of soft snow sitting on top of much harder layers of snow. 

    How can you manage it:Choose travel routes carefully and travel strategically to limit your chance of triggering or being caught in an avalanche. Traveling on a hard, textured snow surface can help to minimize exposure to the avalanche hazard. Consider the actions of other people above you and the potential consequences of triggering even a small avalanche with many exposed rocks, ice, and terrain traps below. Poor visibility could make it difficult or impossible to safely assess avalanche terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

Expect avalanche conditions to be variable and dynamic today. The ability to identify potential avalanche problems and adapt your travel plan based on your own observations is critical for safe travel in avalanche terrain today. Poor visibility should give you pause before entering avalanche terrain because the exact size and location of new wind slabs will be uncertain.

Less-than-forecast snow totals with a very light density and higher-than-forecast wind speeds are likely to limit the size of wind slab avalanches today, but it is not impossible to find dangerous avalanche conditions, especially in highly wind-sheltered terrain features.

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation 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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