Loose Wet
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–1.5
Loose wet avalanches are a common, often simple, avalanche problem, but this is a more complicated setup. At its most basic, there’s plenty of new snow, and temperatures are warming. Add some sunshine, and bingo, you’ll probably have wet loose slides. However, first, thin clouds could keep the sun from working its magic. Pay attention to the sky; the more sunshine, the more likely these avalanches become. The other tricky factor is the potential formation of a thin crust on Sunday. If the surface is crusty, it will need to soften before loose wet slides become a factor.
While the forecast isn’t a slam dunk, it should be easy to observe. If you notice snow shedding from trees and rocks, the surface getting wet and sticky, or see new rollerballs, the tides are turning. Small natural slides could release from rocky slopes, or you may trigger one of these slides in steeper terrain. If loose wet avalanches become an issue, head for more shaded areas.
(12/28/2025)
Small rollerballs and blobs of snow that shed from trees during the sunshine.
Photo: ONP Rangers