Loose Wet
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 2
Three nights of a marginal refreeze coupled with strong mid-March sun and temperatures warming to near 50°F at the low elevations will lead to wet avalanche conditions on many slopes, even in mid-to-low elevation northerly terrain. When you start to see pinwheels and rollerballs and the snow starts to feel unsupportable and punchy, it's time to head to a cooler aspect, lower angle terrain, or head to the barn. Avoid being in or above terrain traps where the snow may pile up more deeply.
From the Sundance Mid-Mtn weather station (elevation 7450') temperature chart below, you can see that the most recent low temperature of 29°F was Friday evening. Despite some slight diurnal swings in temperature, temps have been warming ever since. We really key in on how well the snow refreezes at night as a significant indicator for wet avalanches potential.
Big picture: the snow will soften early and become soft and unsupportable; wet avalanches will be possible on many slopes. Learn more about wet avalanches here.