Huntington Ravine has Considerable and High avalanche danger today. North, Damnation and Yale Gullies have Considerable avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are probable. Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain. All other forecast areas in Huntington Ravine have High avalanche danger. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Unstable slabs are likely in steep terrain. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Ahhhh, mixed precipitation. The best of all types of stuff that comes out of the sky in one event. Who could ask for anything more? A good ol' New England storm has brought over 1" (2.54 cm) of liquid to the mountain since midnight in the form of snow, ice pellets, graupel, and freezing rain. And to add to the mix, rain is on its way up hill into avalanche terrain. From this concoction, the summit measured 3.4" (8.6 cm) of new frozen precipitation and Hermit Lake and Harvard Cabin measured 4.7" (12 cm). Densities are quite high due to the amount of ice and some rain in the very top layer of the new precipitation at the Harvard Cabin and Hermit Lake snow plots. The way the new snow fell created an obvious "upside down" layering structure with lighter density snow sitting under increasingly denser snow, ice and other frozen types of precipitation. This is a red flag when pondering snow stability. Especially when you factor in more precipitation falling through the day that will increase the load on this new snow. Eventually the stress may overcome the strength and the result will be an avalanche. Right now it looks like rain will make its way into avalanche terrain which will increase the chances of avalanche activity. Rain will quickly add weight to snow while breaking down the bonds that are helping it stay in place. The areas forecasted at High today have an added benefit of recent wind loading from SE winds that have been fairly steady in the 60 mph (96 kph) range since precipitation began. Despite impressively high densities, we think new snow has been transported and that deeper wind slabs developed on northerly aspects and some easterly aspects through cross-loading. Our snow stability concerns lie primarily in the new snow but we are wondering if an avalanche in this new snow can step down into an older slab resulting in a significant avalanche. The bottom line is natural avalanches are a real hazard in avalanche terrain today. So, if the nasty weather wasn't enough to keep you reading by a fire today, perhaps that will seal the deal.

After this storm passes, temperatures will drop and an area of low pressure will bring a shot of snow to the region tomorrow with a few inches possible in the mountains. Lingering upslope energy may provide more snow once this system passes followed by a ramp up in wind speeds on Tuesday. More unstable avalanche conditions may result from these events so check the latest advisory before heading into avalanche terrain over the week.

The Lion Head Winter Route is open. It is steep and mountaineering skills and equipment are needed to travel safely on this route. The John Sherburne Ski Trail picked up some new snow which has helped revive it a little bit.