Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 2
Today, avalanches involving wet snow are likely as the snow surface heats up from sunshine and warm temperatures. Temperatures will rise well into the 40s and even 50s today, and the snowpack still holds cold snow underneath the damp surface—any slopes that have yet to avalanche still hold the potential. This problem is most pronounced on steep slopes, especially those around rocky features, facing east/south/west, but also on low-elevation northerly facing terrain as temperatures increase throughout the day.
Avoid traveling on or underneath large cornices, as they may become sensitive to heating and collapse naturally onto the slope below.
Wet snow can easily be managed 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.
Glide avalanches are again a concern and will be with us until the snow has melted. Glide avalanche terrain includes Stairs Gulch, Broads Fork, Mill B South, and Mineral Fork. You can learn more about these large, unpredictable avalanches in this blog post by former UAC director Bruce Tremper.
Photo of West facing terrain on Timpanogos.