Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 2
Intense sun will cause the risk of wet avalanches to increase rapidly today. Solar heating and seasonal warmth will cause the snow to be soft and saturated throughout and prone to producing wet avalanches. Despite being rather slow-moving compared to dry avalanches, these could entrain large piles of heavy snow and grow to become large and dangerous avalanches on sustained slopes.
- If you are sinking deeply into wet/moist snow, move to a lower-angle slope or cooler aspect or elevation.
- Avoid being on or under steep slopes with moist or saturated snow. Collapsing or whumpfs and shooting cracks are red flags indicating unstable snow.
- Be aware of terrain traps below like trees, gullies, sinks, or rock outcroppings that wet avalanches could sweep you into.
- Practice safe travel protocols to avoid exposing more than one person to avalanche danger.