Have a safe and fun new year!
Weather Forecast
Monday night and Tuesday: Mild weather continues with traces of snow expected on the Northern part of the region and then letting place to a sunny warm day with light winds from the North and freezing level rising to 1400 m. in the afternoon. Wednesday: A weak ridge of high pressure builds bringing dry conditions, light Southerly winds and again, freezing levels raising to 1600 m. in the afternoon with an inversion.Thursday: Similar weather pattern is expected for Thursday.
Avalanche Summary
Solar aspects have been reactive lately with the sun weakening the surface and triggering isolated small soft slabs and numerous loose wet avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
The steep South facing aspects are getting moist with warm temperatures and sun effect weakening the surface layer during the afternoons. Relatively small winds slabs also exists below ridges on lee slopes. As an overview, the snowpack is generally well-settled. Near the base of the snowpack, the crust/facet layer appears to be inactive but still produces the sudden planar and collapse shears in isolated areas, especially in the Northern part of the region. Although unlikely, triggering an avalanche on a basal may be possible from thin snowpack areas or with a very heavy trigger.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.