Huntington Ravine has LOW avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.

Cold conditions yesterday, with high winds peaking at 112mph, have given way to much milder air as the next weather maker approaches the mountains. The mid-elevations between 3500 and 4500 feet are already above freezing as of 7:00am. This trend should continue moving up and down the mountain. Cold valley air will mix warming up through the morning and the summits are expected to approach the freezing mark hovering between 30 and 32 degrees F (-1 and 0cm). This will help cold slabs settle and consolidate today and slow the rapid facet growth issues considerably. Areas in Tuckerman particularly the northern side of the Ravine under the Lip, in the Lip, and areas around the Sluice are still posted at Moderate. We feel due to the size of new snowfields and some instabilities they hold the "isolated pockets" descriptor of the Low rating isn't quite enough. However there are a number of locations that possess old hard icy surface conditions that are stable. Someone with reasonable safe travel and routefinding skills should be able to avoid slabs of concern without too much difficulty. The summit weather forecast is calling for the potential for light snow showers, but as warm as I expect avalanche terrain to become today light drizzle or rain is crossing my mind as something to watch. Although we aren't expecting much in the way of water equivalents rain on cold slabs is never good. If this occurs anticipate a rise in the potential for natural avalanches. I don't believe it will affect stability significantly, but the possibility of a one rating increase for all areas with existing slabs has some merit. The next concern is tomorrow's weather. The NWS is expecting mixed precipitation to change to snow through the first half of the weekend. This system will come in with a tight pressure gradient increasing the winds considerably through the afternoon hours on Saturday. It currently appears winds will be out of the SSW at 30-35mph (50-55kph) during the morning shifting to the W approaching 100mph (160kph) later in the day. We will discuss this again tomorrow with more clarity, but be prepared for what our forefathers called the "classic sucker hole". Light winds will "sucker" mountaineers to the summit and then absolutely punish them with a rapid rise in velocity once they're up high on the mountain. Keep this in mind and check the latest weather forecast tomorrow morning before heading out above treeline. Ice dam issues for ice climbers are subsiding, but be aware that you may come across ice in the Ravines that is under hydraulic pressure waiting to be released by an ice tool placement.

THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Mountaineering skills and equipment are required for safe travel on this route. Expect very hard icy conditions on all angle terrain. A quick self arrest is critical if you fall.

The Sherburne Ski Trail is open with very thin cover and varying conditions. Expect bare ground, water ice, deep waterbars and hidden water channels that can grab a ski tip very quickly.

This Advisory is one tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. It should be used along with safe travel techniques, snow stability assessments, an understanding of weather's effect on the snowpack, and proficiency in avalanche rescue. Anticipate changing avalanche danger when actual weather for the Advisory period differs from the NWS forecast and realize changing conditions and local variations may occur. Keep in mind that it’s impossible to accurately predict natural events, such as avalanches, in every instance.