Wet Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1.5–2.5
Abnormally warm temperatures and poor overnight freezes are keeping wet snow avalanches on the table today despite some cloud cover and increasing wind. Here’s what to watch out for.
- Wet slabs 1-3 feet deep may be triggered, or release naturally, as the day warms and surface crusts break down. These avalanches are most likely on slopes that see prolonged periods of sun and tend to occur later in the day. Wet slabs can fail with little warning and have the potential to be large and destructive. So far, most wet slabs have occurred on east facing slopes from 8,500 - 10,000 feet.
- Wet loose avalanches will become a concern once snow surfaces soften and become slushy/unsportable. These avalanches may start small, but can entrain a significant amount of snow. They can also trigger larger, more destructive wet slabs.
- Cornice failure is also possible given the warm temperatures and is another good way to trigger a large slab avalanche. Give these features a healthy margin.
Plan to be out of avalanche terrain early in the day to minimize your exposure to wet snow avalanches. Unsupportable or “punchy” wet snow on the surface is a warning sign that should not be ignored.
(3/19/2026)
Natural wet slab avalanche failing on an easterly slope at 9,800 feet in the Salt River Range.
Photo: Matt Brown