Central Sierra Nevada

Problemas de aludes

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Possible

  Tamaño

  1–1.5

  Rapid warming this morning will quickly melt any firm snow surfaces on sun exposed slopes. Pay attention to quickly changing snow conditions today. Once the snow feels wet and mushy or unsupportable, it's a good idea to opt for recreating on low angle slopes well away from avalanche terrain. Small wet snow sluffs or sinking boot-top-deep into wet snow indicate that wet loose avalanches may occur.

  Air temperatures at the mid to upper elevations are in the mid 40s to mid 50s at sunrise this morning. Today's strong March sun and unusually hot weather will melt through any refrozen surface crust that formed last night in short order, transitioning the surface to unsupportable wet snow. Open slopes will have undergone some refreeze last night, with no refreeze in areas under forest canopy. Surface wet snow will get deeper quickly as the day progresses, with wet loose avalanches becoming possible on sun exposed slopes.

  Repeated melt-freeze cycles and previous rain have helped the snowpack transform into late-spring or summer-like snow with good free water drainage channels established through the snowpack. This means that most wet loose avalanches are expected to remain small. In isolated areas on long, steep, sustained slopes, initially small wet loose avalanches could become larger where they entrain additional snow as they slide downhill. Keep in mind that even small avalanches can have increased consequences in exposed terrain.