Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Strong March sun and warm temperatures will quickly melt through whatever refreeze occurred last night. Once this happens, avalanches of wet loose snow will be possible. Slopes that face the sun directly (E-SE-S-SW-W) will hold more wet snow, but the sun is high enough in the sky that wet snow will also form on more northerly-facing slopes. Wet loose avalanches could entrain enough snow to knock a person over or push them into a terrain trap that magnifies the consequences of an avalanche. On long, steep slopes, wet loose avalanches will entrain more snow as they slide downhill, and some could grow large enough to bury or injure a person.
Snow conditions will get wet and mushy very quickly today. Sinking into boot-top deep wet snow, roller balls, and pinwheels can indicate larger, wet loose avalanches may soon occur. Once the snow starts feeling wet and unsupportable, it's time to move away from avalanche terrain onto less steep slopes.
(3/23/2025)
These skier-triggered wet loose avalanches occurred on the Fireplug in the Mt. Rose backcountry. While small, they still entrained enough snow to knock one of the skiers off his feet and carry him downslope for about 50 ft.
