Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1
As the snow surface warms and becomes wet, some loose wet avalanches should occur. These slides should be confined to the top 6-10 inches of snow. They should happen predictably as you notice the snow warming and producing more rollerballs and pinwheels tumbling downhill. They can happen naturally or be human triggered.
Terrain determines the consequences of an avalanche. On wide open slopes with a clean runout, small, wet loose avalanches may not bury you but can twist and injury a knee or cause similar injuries. In terrain traps like gullies and creek bottoms, they can pile up deep enough to bury a person. In steep exposed terrain, these slides can cause a fall and the consequences would depend on what's below you.