Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
No rating
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A fast-moving storm will bring heavy and wet snow and strong wind to the area today.  This combination of heavy snowfall and wind will create unstable slabs of snow and hazardous travel conditions. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making will be key when traveling in and around avalanche terrain today. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Rapid loading of wind-driven snow will create unstable slabs today. 10-20" of snow with wind will create deep pockets in and above the treeline today.  Careful attention is called for in terrain features that can amplify the effects of this wind-driven snow.  The back side of ridges, gullies, and cross-loaded slopes will all be suspect today.  Snowlines are forecasted around 8500 ft and above and will likely miss our below treeline terrain, which is bare ground. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Several feet of heavy wet snow will fall on old, sugary, weak snow today. We have been monitoring this old snow the past few weeks and it will not handle this new snow well. These faceted grains of snow have been all over our treeline and above north-facing terrain. We expect that the incoming storm will quickly load this old snow and create unstable conditions. 

    Photo: Joe Soccio

Avalanche Discussion

For the past few weeks, we have been walking amongst isolated pockets of snow in the treeline and above treeline terrain. Our below treeline terrain has been mostly bare ground. With high-elevation snow forecasted, it will likely be rain and mixed precipitation in our below-treeline terrain, therefore no rating. Focusing on the treeline and above we are expecting unstable slabs of snow to fall on old weak sugary snow. We are expecting the rapid loading of slopes today, several feet of snow is forecasted to fall in the next 48-60 hours. 

Regions covered