Loose Wet
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
Conditions last night were not very conducive to creating snow surface refreeze. Air temperatures in the 40s at mid slope and higher up combined with a period of cloud cover will have kept overnight snow surface refreeze to a minimum in most locations. A brief window of supportable travel conditions may exist early this morning on some open slopes, especially near the mountain valley floors where the coldest air settled overnight. There may not have been any refreeze in some areas, especially under the forest canopy above the mountain valley floors. Whatever refreeze managed to occur last night will melt away quickly this morning and expose the residual deep wet snow below it. This opens the door for a wet loose avalanche problem.
Wet loose avalanches are possible once the snow surface becomes unsupportable or you can sink ankle deep or more into wet snow. Consider avoiding avalanche terrain or at least slopes steeper than about 35 degrees when unsupportable or deep wet snow conditions exist.
(4/26/2023)
A weak and superficial snow surface refreeze capping residual deep wet snow. Once the thin superficial refreeze melts away, wet loose avalanches are possible. Castle Peak, Donner Summit area, CA.
Photo: SAC