Our avalanche terrain, which harbors existing wind slab, will go through a period of warming today. For this reason and the period of instability it will bring to our snowpack, avalanche danger will be MODERATE for our forecast areas. This scenario of warming wind slabs has many nuances that can be hard to predict. While wind slabs are larger in size and distribution on east facing aspects, the greater amount of solar gain may have more of an impact on shallower wind slabs that reside on south aspects. Heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features today that can be avoided with good route planning and careful navigation.
Danger Rating by Zone
Early winter in the high country
/in News /by Frank CarusWinter came early this year with almost 110” of snow on the summit before December rolled around. Skiers and riders enjoyed the deep soft snow, while warmer temperatures at lower elevations didn’t keep ice climbers happy. Typically, climbers can find an early season fix on ice in Tuckerman and Huntington but all the new snow made for particularly unenjoyable postholing to reach climbing objectives.
The Evolution of Mount Washington Avalanche Center Forecasts
/in News /by fongemieAs those who attended ESAW and recent MWAC outreach events have heard, our forecast zones are changing this year. The primary drivers of this change are changing use patterns, a desire to be consist with the use of North American avalanche danger scale (and other forecast center messaging), and a desire to provide information to folks venturing into other aspects and elevations around the area. Beginning this year, we will provide an avalanche forecast for most of the Northern Presidential Range.