Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely
- Size
- 1–1.5
Evidence of instability, and observations suggesting the possibility of wet-loose avalanches has been limited recently. However, weather conditions remain primed for increasing the likelihood of finding unstable snow. Parting clouds, warming temperatures and light winds today suggest that avalanche danger will slowly climb throughout the day. Reassess slopes you are on and those you are beneath for signs of warming and weakening snow as the day progresses. Firm, frozen conditions are likely to give way to increasing ski and boot penetration which is the first sign that the snow is changing. Rollerballs, pinwheels, sluffing snow and small point release avalanches are tell-tale signs that the scales have been tipped in the direction of instability and it’s time to seek shadier slopes and lower angle terrain.
Areas confined by rocks, with thin snow cover, on unsupported slopes and near trees are the most likely to present with signs of wet-loose instabilities. Don’t rule out shadier aspects near and below tree-line where the snow is still in transition and likely more affected by the warm temperatures.