Loose Wet
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–2
Wet loose avalanches will quickly become possible as soon as the strong March sun and warm temperatures melt through any thin crusts that may have formed last night. Wet snow will form on slopes that get morning sun first, then progress to other slopes as the sun moves across the sky. Due to the high sun angles and warm temperatures, wet snow could exist on any aspect and at any elevation. Wet loose avalanches could easily entrain enough snow to knock a person over or push them into a terrain trap that magnifies the consequences of an avalanche. On long, steep slopes, wet loose avalanches gather more snow as they slide downhill, and some could grow large enough to bury or injure a person.
If a window for supportable snow exists today, it will be short. Snow conditions will get wet and mushy very quickly today. Sinking into boot-top deep wet snow, roller balls, and pinwheels can indicate larger, wet loose avalanches may soon occur. Once the snow feels wet and unsupportable, it's time to move away from avalanche terrain onto less steep slopes.
(3/23/2025)
These skier-triggered wet loose avalanches occurred on the Fireplug in the Mt. Rose backcountry. While small, they still entrained enough snow to knock one of the skiers off his feet and carry him downslope for about 50 ft.
