Loose Wet
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 2
The March sun is strong, and we’re entering a period of poor overnight refreezes. Regardless of air temperature or wind speed, expect wet loose avalanches, roof slides, and a gloppy snow surface on easterly, southerly, and westerly aspects, as well as low-elevation north-facing slopes.
With several days of poor refreeze ahead, larger wet slab avalanches are a growing concern. While it may not happen today, it should remain on our radar. These avalanches occur when meltwater percolates through a layered snowpack for the first time, particularly after multiple days of strong melting and no overnight refreeze. There are several layers within the snowpack where water could pool, making this a concern both today and in the coming days, though there is uncertainty around how quickly or severely this might develop.
- New/Old interface 1-2' down (see artificial pooling in the photo below): This is the first layer likely to see pooling and is the most suspect for shallow wet slab avalanches by this afternoon.
- Early March dust/crust/facet layer & Repeater or thinner areas: These layers will take longer to saturate, but they remain a concern as water moves through the snowpack, potentially leading to large, destructive wet snow avalanches.
Bottom line for wet avalanches:
Get out early and get home early. Avoid slopes above 35 degrees when the snow becomes wet and unable to support your weight. Warning signs include rollerballs, wet sluffs, small sluffs growing into larger slides, and cornices breaking. If you notice any of these, change aspects or head home. Even smaller slides can be dangerous in high-consequence terrain, so always plan a safe exit route.
Pooling on the new snow, old snow interface 1-2' down - Park City Ridgeline - Hardesty
