Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 2
Avalanches involving wet snow will become likely as the snow surface heats up from sunshine and warm temperatures. This problem is most pronounced on steep slopes - especially those around rocky features - facing east/south/west, but also low and mid-elevation northerly facing terrain.
Avoid traveling on or underneath large cornices as they may become sensitive to heating and collapse naturally onto a slope below.
Wet snow can easily be handled by moving to shadier slopes once the snow surface takes on too much heat. Watch for signs of warming such as rollerballs and sluffing in wet snow as shown in the photo below.