Loose Wet
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–1.5
On Friday, our avalanche danger will start off low, increasing throughout the day as the sun warms up solar slopes. This avalanche problem is trending down due to multiple days of warm temps and cooler overnight lows, resulting in a better surface refreeze. As the day heats up and if surfaces start to get slushy, or you are sinking deep in wet snow, it’s time to move to shadier aspects.
Other clues you may find wet loose problems are seeing recent avalanches and pinwheels/rollerballs. This avalanche type is hard to manage, as heavy snow is difficult to escape from if triggered. Timing is the best management for wet loose snow, as well as moving to lower-angle terrain or colder slopes. Use caution around terrain traps. Even a small avalanche around cliffs, trees, or creeks can have higher consequences.
As always, with warming events, use caution near and below cornices. Warm temperatures tend to weaken cornices and they can break easier.
(1/15/2026)
As the day warmed, pinwheels were easy to trigger on steep sunny slopes near Three Finger Jack on Thursday.
Photo: Elliott Reed