An avalanche watch is likely to be posted in the next day or two by the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, and it could soon be followed by an avalanche warning.The spring is a popular time for skiers looking to tackle Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington, and with the potential for significant snowfall this week, it will catch the attention of back-country adventurers.But is it a good idea to try skiing in the risky area?"I wouldn't be surprised if we saw avalanches that were large enough to snap trees," said Jeff Fongemie, director of the Mount Washington Avalanche Center.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<There is a hard-pack surface on the ravines on Mount Washington, so there's a risk of a long, potentially fatal slide. Those falls are the leading cause of winter deaths in the greater Mount Washington area. Avalanches and hypothermia are tied for second. As soon as the snow builds up and the wind starts to blow, the game changes, which will focus the concern on avalanches."Imagine the top of the mountain collecting, say, 25 inches of snow," Fongemie said. "We get 60 mph winds from the west, and it's going to take up 25 inches of snow, and it's going to blow it all over a number of beams and deposits of snow. It's sort of forming a sand dune out of snow. The snow builds up much deeper than the snow that's actually falling out of the sky. And that builds up to a point where the slope can't hold onto the snow. It slides, and it's a natural, natural avalanche. And these conditions could be quite big."The White Mountain National Forest is a resource open to anyone who wants to visit and explore, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea for everyone. Even after this storm, the risk of avalanches will continue. The avalanche center said the ravines on Mount Washington are an extremely high-risk environment for skiers, climbers and hikers."I'd say it's a great time to go skiing at Wildcat across the street and be safe and have a great day and not worry about it," Fongemie said.The center warned that the potential for avalanches will continue after the storm moves through.