Lawinenlagebericht

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Strong winds and new snow from last night will make for sensitive wind slab conditions in avalanche terrain today. Start zones below ridges, cross-loaded slopes, and slope convexities will all be possible places to trigger an avalanche.  Above-freezing temperatures will add complexity to the big picture, consider building a wide margin in your trip plan and anticipate changing conditions today. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    Fresh wind slabs have been developing since yesterday. A high wind warning down to valley floors will keep this snow moving around and loading slopes in avalanche terrain. Strong winds can strip windward slopes to bare ground and redistribute snow in various locations. Start zones, gullies, and cross loaded slopes will all be suspect today. Mid-slope convexities and small terrain features in sheltered terrain could be catching this wind-driven snow as well. Shooting cracks and whumphfing are indicators of unstable slab snow. I would expect both of these red-flag warnings in the snow today. On top of that is a rise in air temperatures today. Snow could become heavy adding to the complexity of the wind slab problem. 

Avalanche Discussion

Several inches of snow that fell last night, accompanied by strong wind, will make for sensitive wind slabs today. These slabs of snow are my main concern. When the wind is this strong, a good portion of the snow that falls can sublimate, meaning that the snow is returned to the atmosphere instead of being redistributed in the terrain. The snow that does redistribute in avalanche terrain will be sensitive to triggering and is suspect to sliding, most likely by the weight of a human or a cornice collapse. I would expect that a natural avalanche cycle occurred last night in frequently loaded areas as well. 

Warmth after the storm: snow levels have been rising this morning. This could potentially add energy to slab snow, increasing the hazard.  The temperature at the Sonora Pass SNOTEL is at 36 degrees this morning. Precipitation amounts are supposed to taper. Otherwise, we could experience a rain-on-snow event in NTL terrain. 

After several days of no results in our snow pit tests (ECTs and PSTs), we have pulled the persistent slab from our problem list. the snow grains have been bonding and rounding over time. This upcoming change in snowfall and weather will add stress to the snowpack and we will be monitoring this layer that is at this time, dormant. 

What is uncertain today is freezing levels. A warm air mass moves in today and freezing levels could rise up to 8000ft. For reference, the turnoff of HWY 108 onto Leavitt Lake Road is around 8400ft, and the valley floor of Sardine Meadows is a few hundred feet higher.  Conway summit near the southern edge of our forecast zone sits at 8200 ft. There is plenty of ski terrain below those elevations (Twin Lakes, Crater Crest) however, the current snowfall amounts in these areas are low making travel options strenuous. Regardless of that, if you find yourself traveling through snow in avalanche terrain and you encounter a rain-on-snow event, think about the change in conditions and adjust your plan accordingly. 

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