Huntington Ravine has MODERATE avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are unlikely and human triggered avalanches are possible. Use caution in steeper terrain.

One thing is for sure, New England weather is anything but boring!! We have gone from 13cm (5.3in) of 3.4% snow and temperatures just up the road in Berlin of -34C (-28F) yesterday, to freezing rain beginning tonight, changing to rain tomorrow. It's enough to send Western powder hounds cursing back to their home states and the rest of us either crying or laughing maniacally. The way I see it all weather is beautiful. So you can either embrace our weather diversity or go wildly insane!

The wind's held from the west for the majority of yesterday with sustained speeds between 100-120kph (60-75mph) between noon and 10pm. They achieved a maximum of 130kph (80mph) before diminishing into the early morning. These winds exceeded the forecasted speeds of 65-100kph (40-60mph) which likely made a substantial difference in moving the low density crystals above treeline. Debris and fracture lines have been both obliterated and muted, but we believe avalanche activity occurred in Hillman's, the Dutchess, high in the Chute, and high in the center Headwall. In Huntington thin slabs released in O'Dells and on Damnation Buttress. In other locations we were a bit surprised that more loading did not occur. There certainly is new loading particularly above and below the Center Headwall in Tuckerman, but we anticipated more. Light densities and high winds moved snow off of the old crust surface and other wind exposed areas easily leaving new loading in predominately strong lee locations. Aspects usually cross loaded by west winds appear to have picked up more snow than many locations in the direct lee. This is particularly true in Huntington where the cross loaded areas of South and Yale picked up far more than Central which is in the direct lee of the west winds. The new slabs that are currently in the both Ravines are soft, but denser than the unconsolidated snow beneath on the interface of the old surface. This is the primary concern today and will be tomorrow when warmer weather and rain will likely affect these instabilities. With that said tomorrow will not only be quite wet, but expect an elevated avalanche danger. Rain on new slabs with the weakness just discussed should create a natural avalanche cycle.

THE LION HEAD SUMMER TRAIL IS NOW CLOSED DUE TO THE AVALANCHE PRONE SLOPES JUST BELOW TREELINE. THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Mountaineering skills and equipment are required for safe travel on this route.

The John Sherburne Ski Trail is improving with every bit of snow we receive. However, expect abrupt waterbars, lots of bushes and rocks hidden under new snow.

As always, this advisory is one more tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. It should be used along with your own snow stability assessments, knowledge of safe travel techniques, skill in reading mountain weather's effect on the snowpack and avalanche rescue. To improve these skills take an avalanche course. We have all the avalanche courses offered in and around the Mt. Washington Valley this winter on our website, tuckerman.org.