Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Heavy snowfall, blizzard conditions and extreme gale force winds since Friday makes for dangerous avalanche conditions.   This snowfall/wind loading has affected all aspects and elevations. Traveling in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended and highly discouraged.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    This storm has clocked wind speeds over 180 mph over ridge tops, mainly from the south west.   Wind slabs will be found on leeward catchment zones, gullies and below ridges. Widespread through out the terrain, reactive to touchy in reactivity. Natural avalanches very likely and human triggered almost certain.  New and large cornice formation will be found on leeward ridges and crossloaded terrain features.

    When the storm clears we expect to find evidence of naturally occuring, very large+ wind slabs on leeward slopes Above Tree Line and Near Tree Line, as well as human triggered will remain very likely for the immediate future.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Storm snow loading has been 1-4" an hour for the past 48 hours at all elevations.  BTL and NTL have been most affected by Storm snow loading, and in zones protected against the wind.  Travel in terrain below 30 degrees until this snow has a chance to bond with new/old snow interface.  

    This heavy snow load will cause multiple weak, old-existing interfaces to fail under the new snow load.   Backcountry traveling should only be done with large margins being set and avoiding travel above 30 degrees and making sure you are not in the runout of avalanche terrain above you, as avalanches will be large and running well into the flats.

Avalanche Discussion

  • The past 72 hours, mid to upper elevations have recorded over 11 inches of SWE. Which could very easily be equal to over 11' of new snow, with wind loading 3x to 5x that amount in specific leeward catchment zones.
  • There has been limited visual data and observations  from above 7k' in the past 48 hours, as access has been difficult with snow rates, winds and blizzard conditions.

Regions covered