Loose Wet
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Overnight temperatures were well above freezing at most all sensors above 7000’, making any snow surface refreeze reliant on radiational cooling of the snowpack. Overnight clear skies should help provide a decent refreeze of the snow surface for this morning. This melt freeze crust will quickly melt with the very warm temperatures and strong late April sunshine. Once this crust melts away and deeper wet snow is exposed, wet snow avalanches could occur.
Snow surface conditions may change quickly today from supportable and firm to deep and mushy. Roller balls, pinwheels, and boot top wet snow will all be indicators that the snow surface refreeze has melted away and wet loose avalanches are becoming possible. As the snow surface becomes deep and unsupportable, it’s time to move away from avalanche terrain to less committing slopes. Large cornices remain along ridgelines in some areas. These cornices will continue to melt, weaken, and potentially collapse.
(4/20/2024)
Overnight refreeze of the top 4 inches of the snowpack at P- hardness. Open E aspect slope at 8,000' at 0940h. Andesite Peak, CA
Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center