Loose Wet
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–2
Most weather stations throughout the zone have continued to record above freezing temperatures for nearly two days, and freezing levels are forecasted to increase to 8500ft by Friday afternoon. We have little to no information on the upper elevations to confirm if overnight cooling has allowed a crust to form on the surface. But with daytime warming, even any crusts formed overnight may break down during the day. With a sunny day forecasted tomorrow, southern aspects are more likely to have unstable wet snow. It may be best to travel on sun-exposed slopes in the morning hours before the sun warms and melts the snow surface. Inversion conditions may keep the valleys cooler and cause a slightly elevated hazard for wet loose avalanches at upper elevations.
Rollerballs or small test slopes where wet snow gains momentum and additional snow as it flows downhill are good indications that wet loose avalanches are possible. Also, be cautious of traveling above rocks, cliffs, creeks, or other obstacles that can increase the consequences of getting caught.
(1/10/2022)
Small Wet Loose avalanches on a cut bank that occurred during a period of rain on 1/10.
Photo: Andrew Kiefer