There are three different types of avalanches. One type is a “dry snow avalanche”. This kind is made of dry, fluffy snow. The mixture of air and snow creates a very shaky combination. The slide may have a speed of up to 100 miles per hour. The second type is a “wet snow avalanche”. This is a packy, wet substance of wet, dense snow. The layer of water helps start the slide. This type is fast, but still slower than the “dry snow avalanche”. The third type is a “slab avalanche”. This is made of thick sheets of ice. When the slabs of ice break apart they fall. They break apart as they slide down the mountain until they are sharp and speedy.