Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 2
Today's warm temperatures will increase the danger of wet avalanches. After an extremely poor overnight refreeze, the snow will soften up earlier in the day today than it did yesterday and dangerous wet avalanche conditions could develop on some sunny slopes. As the snow melts and becomes waterlogged and loose, wet avalanches will become likely on steep sunny slopes facing east, southeast, south, southwest and west. Roller balls and pinwheels are sure signs of instability.
- Pay attention to potential terrain traps below you, like trees, cliffs, or gullies, that a small avalanche might carry you into.
- Avoid being under steep slopes with saturated snow.
- If you are sinking in above your ankles, move to a cooler aspect, elevation, or lower-angle terrain.
Avoid being on or underneath overhanging cornices, as they can break back much further than expected and could trigger avalanches on slopes below. The warm temperatures make them more fragile.
These natural wet avalanches in Rattlesnake Canyon in the Wellsville Mt Wilderness occurred during our most recent warm spell at the end of March. After a few warm nights and mountain daytime temperatures in the 50s, cornice falls spawned by the heat, triggered wet slab avalanches.