Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Three nights in a row of above freezing air temperatures and poor snow surface refreeze conditions have occurred. The potential for wet loose avalanches will develop quickly again today. Increasing winds may slightly slow the snow surface melt on some slopes today, but wet snow instability is still expected.
Wet loose avalanches have been observed on all aspects over the last few days. The incoming solar radiation is strong this time of year and the sun angle is high, making for wet snow on all aspects and at all elevations. Wet loose avalanches could easily entrain enough snow to knock a person over or push them into a terrain trap that magnifies the consequences of an otherwise small avalanche. On long, steep slopes, wet loose avalanches gather more snow as they slide downhill, and could become large enough to bury or injure a person.
Anyplace that a frozen, supportable snow surface exists first thing this morning will be short lived. Surface crust will melt, and snow conditions will get wet and mushy very quickly again today. Signs of developing wet snow instability include sinking boot-top deep into wet snow, as well as triggering roller balls and pinwheels. These signs indicate that you could trigger larger, wet loose avalanches. It's time to exit avalanche terrain and move onto lower angle slopes once the snow surface becomes wet and unsupportable.
(3/25/2025) Recent wet loose avalanches on the E aspect of Elephant's Back. It appears that cornice fall triggered the avalanche on the right. Carson Pass area, CA
Photo: Kelly Chang
