Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Warm-sunny spring like temperatures and left over wind affected snow is keeping danger at a moderate.  High and mid elevation leeward pockets are still holding stubborn, isolated wind slabs in steeper terrain.   While lower elevation, solar exposures are heating up by mid day and chance of point release wet loose avalanches are possible.   Take account of where these instabilities lay and move through the terrain accordingly. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    This week there were numerous isolated, skier triggered wind slab avalanches in steep, leeward catchment zones.   Shifting-swirling wind directions during the night, made for topographically dependent isolated slab pockets.  The wind slabs that were found, were reported to be stubborn to trigger as it took multiple skiers on slope to trigger and or a snow machines weight. These slabs are small in nature but can and will pull you down slope if caught. Extra caution if in consequential terrain.  As the week has gone on, so has the rising temperatures; effecting mid level elevations and  making triggering even harder with a freeze-thaw skin (crust) on the surface. The upper elevations on shaded slopes temperatures didn't rise above freezing, therefore staying more "touchy" on their reactivity. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Warmer temperatures and  light to calm winds at lower elevations, has made for a centimeter thick breakable freeze-thaw crust formation on solar aspects (see attached photo).   Roller balls were reported on solar aspects just after mid day near rock formations, on steeper terrain.  While a few roller balls themselves are mostly benign, it is a early sign of warming surface temperatures and if sustained temps througout the day or days, could lead to point release wet loose instabilities.  Todays temperatures will peak, before wintery conditions return sometime tomorrow and later this week.   On another note, that freeze-thaw surface crust layer, could make for an interesting interface between new/old snow later in the week...

Avalanche Discussion

  • Cold unconsolidated snow and overnight winds in upper elevations are responsible for newly formed wind slabs. Though these winds have been light, theyve been just enough to transport and form new pockets or add to existing pockets of snow.
  • Another winter storm is set to arrive Monday bringing more snow to the upper elevations, before a larger possible atomospheric rivers arrival later in the week.  These storms will arrive midweek and increase avalanche danger. Keep in mind we create avalanche forecasts and publish them on Fridays and Sundays at 0700.  Please refer to SAC and ESAC websites for current daily forecasts to the north and south of our region for comparable conditions during mid week.

Regions covered