Wet Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Very Likely
- Dimensione
- 1.5–2.5
Fellow NWAC forecaster Lee Lazarra traveled into the Baker backcountry Tuesday, where he encountered wet loose avalanches, glide cracks, a very small glide avalanche, and sagging cornices (see photos). You can read his observation HERE. Another OBSERVATION came in from a hiker who reported a wet slab avalanche, probably failing naturally in the early morning hours, near Excelsior Peak.
We've got a myriad of wet snow problems that we're encountering- at earlier stages in the rain event wet loose avalanches were more common, but as more water is added to the snowpack and temperatures continue to increase, the problem could shift more towards wet slab avalanches.
By Wednesday morning 3-4 inches of rain will have fallen in the West North zone over the last 36 hours. Snowlines started around 5000ft and are only increasing in elevation. It is alarming to see this much water falling on a snowpack that was previously mostly dry, low density snow.
Wet snow avalanches tend to be less predictable than dry snow avalanches, and the chances of a human triggering one are very likely. Natural avalanches are likely. For this reason, stay off of steep slopes, and avoid traveling beneath large, steep slopes as well.
(1/11/2022) Public Field Observation: A wet slab avalanche near Excelsior Peak. This probably occurred Tuesday morning. Around 5100 ft, S facing. : NWAC Public Obs
