Officials are warning people to stay out of avalanche terrain in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range today due to the likelihood of large, destructive avalanches.
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center (MWAC) has issued an avalanche warning from 7 a.m. on Monday, February 17 and ending at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18.
The MWAC avalanche forecast says avalanche conditions are very dangerous. Large, destructive, and naturally occurring avalanches are very likely across northerly, easterly, and southerly terrain.
Officials said aalanches could run far into flat runout zones that previously seemed safe. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
According to the report, extreme winds will rapidly load yesterday’s new snow onto east-facing, north-facing, and south-facing aspects.
Steep avalanche terrain has the ability to avalanche multiple times throughout the day as slopes continue to be reloaded with dense, wind-drifted snow.
Eastern ravines including Tuckerman Ravine, Gulf of Slides, Huntington Ravine, and the Summer Lion Head Trail are in the bullseye of avalanche danger today.
The forecast says the best strategy is to avoid terrain above 3,000 feet.
While the forecast focuses only on the Presidential Range, it is probably a good idea to extend that strategy to other mountains throughout the region after this weekend’s snow storm and today’s high winds, as avalanches can occur elsewhere.
On Sunday, two climbers were caught in an avalanche at New Hampshire’s Cannon Cliffs.
Read the full avalanche forecast.