Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Clear skies last night should have allowed enough heat to radiate into the night sky for the snow surface to refreeze, even though air temperatures did not get very cold. This thin refreeze may not last long in today's sunny warm weather. Once it melts, it will combine with the leftover wet snow below the crust, resulting in a deep layer of wet loose snow. Wet loose avalanches will be possible. Long steep slopes can produce larger wet snow avalanches, but smaller wet loose avalanches can still have consequences in areas with terrain traps like cliffs or creeks. Today's warm weather may also weaken some of the remaining cornices that still exist near ridgelines.
The window for supportable snow conditions may be short today, and conditions will change quickly. Pay attention to the terrain and conditions as you travel. Clues like 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 mushy, it's time to move away from avalanche terrain.
(4/15/2024)
This small skier-triggered wet loose avalanche likely occurred on April 12th.
Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center