Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Overnight temperatures cooled slightly from the night before with mostly clear skies and increased winds. A thin snow surface refreeze is expected for this morning in open areas due to radiational cooling from the mostly clear skies overnight. The strong southwest winds should limit or delay snow surface melt where direct wind exposure is occurring-these winds are forecasted to decrease later today. Once out of the wind or off the ridge, rapid warming will quickly melt through the surface crusts with a short window of supportable snow surface conditions.
Pay attention to the changing snow conditions as the day warms up. For travel in avalanche terrain, getting an early start and finishing early is the best plan. Wet loose avalanches and cornice collapses will become possible as daytime warming occurs. Once the snow feels wet and unsupportable, it's time to move away from avalanche terrain onto less steep slopes.
Recent debris from the large cornice above Meiss Meadow. Carson Pass area.
Photo: SAC