A powerful avalanche occurred near Hillman’s Highway on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington this Christmas Eve due to the combined effect of a snowfall and severe winds in the area.
Video captured by the Mount Washington Avalanche Center shows layers of snow shooting down the mountain on Tuesday. The center posted the recording of the avalanche and its aftermath to Facebook.
In the post, the center said the “large natural avalanche” happened in the Hillman’s Highway area “after several inches of new snow and several hours of significant wind loading.” It has also warned the public of an increased risk for more in the area given the current weather conditions, alerting people to take the proper precautions when going up or near the mountain.
“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. “Remember, we are not yet in a 5-scale daily forecast. It is critical that you are prepared to make your own assessments of stability and terrain decisions that support what you are seeing in the mountains. If you are unsure of how to make these assessments, hiring a guide is a great option to drastically reduce your risk.”
Last December, a 30-year-old skier was critically injured on Mount Washington after getting trapped in an avalanche. He reportedly triggered the event as he was skiing down “Airplane Gully.”
An article published by the Mount Washington Observatory in 2021 reported that there have been 17 recorded deaths from avalanche incidents on the mountain. Yet, this number does not include others who have been “caught, buried, or injured” by snow slides on Mount Washington and “lived to tell the tale.”
According to the center, nobody was caught in the avalanche that occurred on Christmas Eve. However, its forecast warns that the new snow and strong winds “could create dangerous avalanche conditions on steep slopes above 3000 feet in elevation.”
Visitors are cautioned that avalanches could occur without warning in the area, and to be weary of signs such as “wind-blowing snow, cracks in the snow under your feet, and smooth snow drifts that feel firm and sound hollow.”
