Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The hottest day of this record breaking March heat wave is today.  Wet snow avalanches are possible today during the heat of the day.  Avoid steep solar exposed slopes as the surface snow pack saturation increases, so does the chance of triggering an avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The likelihood for human triggered wet loose instabilities increases throughout the day, especially on lower elevation slopes with trees and rocks that collect more heat and transfer it to the snowpack.  If the snow is already soft at the trailhead when you start your day, its only going to get worse as the day progresses. High elevation North shaded aspects are still frozen and may soften later in the afternoon.   Temperatures up high on north slopes seem to be staying cold enough to keep condtions firm throughout the day.  Any flat terrain with southern exposure is wet-punchy mank by mid day.  The solar radiation seems to be mostly effecting the due south aspects in elevations Above Tree Line or above 9500' as afternoon SW breezes are helping cool things down as the heat of the day increases.  

     

Avalanche Discussion

  • Start your ski tours early and end early.  To find good snow (thawing refreeze, top 2-3") is an aspect and elevation timing game.
  • The sun and heat has been no joke this week. Pack plenty of water, sunscreen and a big hat for your longer tours.  As avoiding direct sun and staying hydrated is difficult.
  • Boot and ski crampons are a must for north facing, high elevation objectives that demand an early start.
  • The low temp last night was 46 degrees with a high yesterday of 62 degrees at almost 10k'.  Today's high may reach 70 degrees at the same elevation!
  • Wet Slab avalanches are unlikely, but not totally out of the question as the temps increase today.  Due southern exposed areas BTL-NTL protected from the afternoon breezes seem to be most suspect, during snow surface melt peaking around 1300-1400 in the afternoon.  

Regions covered