Loose Wet
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Despite continued mild overnight temperatures, generally clear skies should support a nightly refreeze of the snow surface. As the sun comes up and the snow surface begins to soften, start thinking about wet loose avalanches on very steep sunny aspects. Use caution near sun-soaked cliffs and rock bands, where the snow is receiving additional heating from those terrain features and there's a higher likelihood of triggering a wet loose avalanche.
Pay attention to the snow surface throughout the day as you change aspects and elevations. If you're starting to sink in more than a few inches into wet snow, move to a different aspect or to lower angle terrain. Use extra care near terrain traps, like open creeks, above trees, and cliffs where even a small slide could easily lead to real damage. Lower elevations will see cooler temperatures with persistent temperature inversions, lowering the wet loose likelihood. That said, it's a big area and apply the same caution anywhere you find wet, mushy surface snow.
(1/13/2026)
Rollersballs were shedding near rocky terrain in White River Canyon on Tuesday. Cliffy terrain like this is a common place to see the first signs of warming on warm and clear days.
Photo: Joe Dellaporta