Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1
The image above clearly illustrates how damp snow can fan out and entrain even more snow as it descends a steep slope.
The snowpack will get its first taste of strong spring sunshine and the danger of wet slides and sluffs increases on all quadrants of the compass and all elevations as the day wares on. Remember- if you're feeling like an ant under a magnifying glass, so is the snow. (Of note... no ants were injured during the use of this analogy :)
Here's the good news... wet avalanches are a straight-forward and easy avalanche problem to avoid. As daytime temperatures climb and the snow get damp, manky, or unsupportable, simply get off and out from under steep, sun-baked slopes. In addition, you'll want to avoid terrain traps like gullies and road cuts where wet, cement-like snow can stack up very deeply.