Video shows large avalanche on Mount Washington; elevated risk for more this week
NORTH CONWAY, N.H. - Video captured by the Mount Washington Avalanche Center shows a wall of snow racing down the mountain on Christmas Eve.
The center says the "large natural avalanche" happened in the Hillman's Highway area "after several inches of new snow and several hours of significant wind loading."
No people got caught up in the avalanche. The center posted video to Facebook of the avalanche and the aftermath.
A large natural avalanche occurred yesterday in Hillman’s Highway after several inches of new snow and several hours of...
Posted by Mount Washington Avalanche Center on Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Elevated avalanche risk
The center's forecast says snow and wind "could create dangerous avalanche conditions" on steep slopes that are higher than 3,000 feet.
"Through the rest of the week, the risk of avalanches will be elevated as wind has the opportunity to continue moving light density snow and forming sensitive wind slabs," the center said.
Visitors are warned that avalanches can occur without warning in the area, but signs of danger include visible cracks in the snow and "smooth snow drifts that feel firm and sound hollow."
Avalanche history on Mount Washington
According to an article on the Mount Washington Observatory's website from 2021, there have been 17 deaths from avalanche incidents on the mountain in recorded history.
Last December, a skier was critically injured in an avalanche on Mount Washington. The 30-year-old was skiing down "Airplane Gully" when he triggered the avalanche.
Video captured last year showed a skier and snowboarder on the mountain get caught up in an avalanche when the snow broke loose on Tuckerman Ravine. Nobody was seriously hurt in the incident.