Huntington Ravine is still under a General Avalanche Advisory. A General Advisory is issued when instabilities are isolated within the entire forecast area. However it's important to realize that avalanche activity may occur within these locations before the issuance of a 5-scale forecast. This is a critical fact to remember. Under a General Advisory you need to make your own avalanche stability assessments before venturing into any open slopes.

Today's stability rating is based on rain falling on cold slabs in avalanche terrain. Today's forecast is calling for mixed precipitation through the day with a general change over to rain later in the day. The models are calling for .27-.4" (.69-1 cm) of liquid equivalent from this storm with the period of highest intensity falling early this morning. There is a band of warmer air between 4000' and 5300' which could mean that rain is falling there while precipitation is frozen above and below this band. This is bad news for the stability of the recently deposited wind slabs that exist in avalanche terrain. If this warmer air remains in the start zones allowing for more rain rather than mixed precipitation, expect areas posted at Considerable to be on the upper end of that rating and edging into High avalanche danger due to the concern of natural avalanche activity. In Huntington Ravine, where we are still under a general advisory, an overall lack of snow only allows for isolated issues. Examples of these are pockets of slab that exist in the top of Yale and Damnation. A general advisory does not mean you don't have to think about avalanches.

Colder air will filter in tonight and temperatures on the Summit will dip down into the single digits F. Winds will shift to the NW and increase to 60 to 80 mph (96 to 128 kph) with higher gusts. Tomorrow's weather will be similar with even stronger NW winds and the possibility of snow showers.

By now you should have refreshed your avalanche skills, installed some fresh high quality alkaline batteries in your avalanche beacon, and mastered its use. Don't forget your safe travel rules, techniques for assessing snow stability, and sign up for an avalanche course. Avalanche courses offered in the valley this winter are now on our website, tuckerman.org.