Huntington Ravine has CONSIDERABLE AND HIGH avalanche danger. The Escape Hatch, O'Dells, Pinnacle, Yale, Damnation, and North have Considerable avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are probable. Unstable slabs are probable on steep slopes. Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain. Central and South Gullies have High avalanche danger. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Unstable slabs are likely on a variety of aspects and slope angles. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

The models seem to have hit the dynamics of this storm right on the head. The summit and Hermit Lake picked up 8.5cm (3.3in) of 10.8% density snow as of 6am. Snow is predicted to continue in the mountains through the morning and we should receive another 5cm (2in). Temperatures have remained cool staying below -6 (21F). Snow started around noon yesterday with winds out of the south slowly increasing to around 90kph (55mph) before subsiding and shifting from the west over the next 5 hours. West winds have been steadily increasing in speed since midnight and were gusting to 130kph (80mph) as of 6am. This slow increase over 6 hours has brought snow into the Ravines without blowing it out in most areas. Expect loading to continue through the day as winds shift to the NW at 80-120kph (50-75mph). I think we probably have seen the high gust for the day already. This means winds for the remainder of the day will be high enough to load lee areas without blowing it out of avalanche start zones. Cold new snow is being loaded on a cold crust in many locations. This combination will likely bond poorly adding more complexity to today's unstable snow conditions. As loading subsides a bit tonight aspects in both ravines will have been loaded by winds marching from the S to the NW over a 24 hour period.

High winds should have no problem moving new snow off the icy surface crust above treeline. All visitors traveling on steep terrain should be prepared with crampons and an ice axe.

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 still hard under the new snow, but has improved dramatically today. However, expect hidden hazards in the form of turf, rocks, bushes, and deep waterbars lurking under the new cover.

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.