Loose Wet
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–1.5
Cooler air temperatures over the past few days have allowed recent new snow to escape melt-freeze in many areas. Today's rapid warming, a substantial increase in maximum daytime air temperatures, and decreasing winds will allow snow surface melt to affect this recent new snow. As this recent new snow warms on sun exposed slopes, it is expected to become unstable. The vast majority of surface wet snow development will occur across ENE-SE-S-SW-WNW aspects. The sun angle is starting to get high enough to have more effect on some NE and NW aspects so treat all sun exposed slopes with caution today. Pay particular attention to terrain where shallow amounts of wind drifted snow from yesterday and steep sun exposed slopes intersect.
Rollerballs, pinwheels, and wet loose avalanches are all signs of unstable wet snow. When these signs of instability are present, move to lower angle slopes without steeper terrain above. Instability will increase as daytime warming progresses through the late morning and afternoon hours. Time travel in or below avalanche terrain accordingly.
Rollerballs and pinwheels on NE to E aspect terrain. A sign of potentially unstable wet snow.