Front Range

With some of the warmest days of the season in store, your ability to trigger wet avalanches will increase as each day progresses and into the weekend. The most likely place to trigger an avalanche in wet snow is on an open, rocky, sunny, and very steep slope. Most avalanches you trigger could be small, but some could grow large enough to injure you. Signs of increasing wet snow hazards include rollerballs or pinwheels, gloppy snow sticking to the bottom of your gear, or loose avalanches on other slopes. To check wet snow issues, step out of your skis or board, off your machine or snowshoes, and see how far your foot penetrates the wetting snow. If you are sinking above the middle of your boot sick to slopes less than 35 degrees, call it a day if you sink near the top of your boot top.

With overnight temperatures expected to be above freezing, wet snow hazards will rise more rapidly each day. Get into and out of the mountains early to avoid wet snow avalanches.