Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Warm, wet, and windy conditions will make travel dangerous in the mountains today. A strong SW wind with gale-force gusts will create areas of unstable snow, especially around the Sierra Crest or in wind-prone areas. Terrain near ridges, in gullies, and open slopes could rapidly fill with snow. The snowpack is complex, conservative terrain choices will be key today.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Heavy, dense snow began on Friday and continued through the weekend.  Rain lines have fluctuated through the storm, adding complexity to the picture.  Storm snow instabilities will linger within the new snow today.  This new snow will still need time to adjust, and triggering a slab avalanche is likely today. Wind-driven snow or wind slab snow is included in the Storm Slab label listed above. With the wind from the SW, expect northerly aspects to be loading up and releasing throughout the wind event today. 

    (2/1/2025) Photo: Julian Hanna

    New Storm Slab snow fractured easily on 2/1/25 Intentional release, human triggered on a small test slope. 

  • Loose Wet

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

    High-elevation rain on snow fell throughout the day and into last night. This heavy, wet snow has fallen on a variety of surfaces, including crusts as well as near-surface facets.  While the problem is identified above as Wet Loose, it is also possible for slabs to break out as the entrainment process occurs. Water has a way of finding the lowest spot and that can mean traveling along crusts or percolating through crusts, saturating the upper snowpack. Sheltered areas where loose, dry surface facets exited before the rain will have more snow available for wet loose avalanches to form. Wet snow avalanches are very destructive and can often run further and longer than expected. Avalance paths that have little or no snow are still suspect today as an avalanche from the snowier upper elevations could run their full paths into lower elevation terrain. 

Avalanche Discussion

Pay close attention to the terrain you travel in today, especially if you are on a machine and planning to travel through multiple riding areas. The wet, dense snow still needs time to gain strength. Consider slopes than reduce or avoid overhead hazards; we have had a significant amount of snow in a short amount of time in the forecast region. Conservative decision-making and terrain choice management will help you avoid unstable snow today. 

Regions covered