Bollettino valanghe

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
Vedi sulla mappa

Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
Open full map
Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 6 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Avalanche danger will rise across the forecast area as temperatures warm significantly and rain works to weaken the snowpack. Wet snow avalanches are difficult to predict. Careful terrain selection and awareness of a warming, wet snowpack will be important as the day progresses.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    What and where is it: Rain and above freezing temperatures increase the potential for wet slab and wet loose avalanches on all aspects and elevations. Solar gain in the afternoon could increase the impact on terrain exposed to the sun. 

    How can you recognize it: Rain and wet snow will be clear indicators to look out for wet snow avalanches. Rollerballs and softening snow surfaces will be signs of water and warmth destructuring the snowpack. Seeing wet loose slides will also indicate increasing avalanche hazard. Your boot penetration will give you information on the potential size of loose wet avalanches, but you will have to dig into the snow to understand how deep water is saturating and if it is pooling around any buried crust layers or hard slabs. 

    How can you manage it: Any steep snow-covered slope should be treated as though it could slide today. With wet slabs, there can be limited warning signs from the snowpack outside of seeing rain and wet snow. They 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

Today marks the first meaningful warmup above freezing at all elevations since December 29, when summit temperatures briefly reached 38 F. More than an inch of rainfall is expected during this forecast period. Prolonged above-freezing temperatures combined with steady rain will introduce free water into the snowpack, a combination that can destabilize the snow in ways that are difficult to predict.

Leading into this event, several days of mild temperatures and a lack of recent snowfall have allowed the snowpack to settle and strengthen. The small wind slabs that formed on March 4th have had time to adjust and are now largely stabilized. The snowpack is generally well adjusted and currently lacks any known, widespread structural red flags. Even so, wet snow avalanche problems deserve attention today. Wet snow avalanches are inherently difficult to forecast, and the wet, dense debris they produce can be incredibly destructive.

The most likely issue will be wet loose avalanches, potentially failing on buried ice crusts as meltwater reduces cohesion within the upper snowpack. A wet slab avalanche is less likely but remains possible if deeper layers lose strength.

Both problem types can carry serious consequences depending on terrain, confinement, and the depth and mass of moving snow. Careful terrain selection and awareness of changing surface conditions will be important as the day progresses.

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.

Regioni coperte