Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2
Overnight, with clear skies and mountain temperatures dropping below freezing, I would expect the snow surfaces to be frozen on the south half of the compass. Later this morning and into the afternoon, the sun will once again warm the southerly facing terrain, loosening the bonds between the grains as the snow surface becomes damp (diurnal temperature cycle). With enough direct sun and warming temperatures, the snow can lose all its strength and begin to slide down steep terrain naturally.
This avalanche problem is what we call "predictable," meaning - we will see wet loose avalanches again later today. If you're in sunny terrain and the snow surface becomes wet and unsupportable to your weight, it's time to change aspects or head home. Rollerballs/pinwheels are generally the first sign of unstable wet snow. Natural and human-triggered loose wet snow avalanches are possible today.
