Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1
Above freezing overnight temperatures and some overnight cloud cover should lead to a weaker overnight refreeze. While today's cloud cover and strong winds may slow down the melting process, it will not take much to melt through last night's weak refreeze. Loose wet avalanches will become possible again today once the refreeze melts. Expect deep wet unsupportable snow on slopes early in the day especially on the sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects and on some northerly aspects as well. Most loose wet avalanche activity should remain smaller today, but larger loose wet activity is not impossible. If any areas receive rain, loose wet activity will be more widespread in those areas.
Once the snow becomes wet and unsupportable, it is time to move to a different aspect where colder snow exists or switch activities to avoid the wet snow.
In addition to the wet snow potential, large cornices still exist above many slopes and glide cracks have opened on some steep slopes. Numerous cornice collapses have occurred during the warm weather, and some have triggered loose wet avalanches large enough to bury a person. It is very difficult to predict when these cornice failures will occur or when glide cracks will release as glide avalanches. Due to their size, unpredictability, and serious consequences, it is best to avoid areas below glide cracks and large cornice features during any warm periods.