Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

A classic Sierra storm delivering  2-3ft of new snow and strong winds will cause the avalanche danger to drastically increase today. Wind-drifted snow and Intense snowfall will create very dangerous avalanche conditions, Travel around or below avalanche terrain is not recommended

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Strong SW winds will transport new snow and create wind slabs on leeward terrain,  concave slopes, and cross-load gullies. Between 2-3 ft of new snow is forecasted for the Sonora pass area, strong winds up to 60mph mean that snow will be on the move today, creating wind slabs in exposed terrain near and above tree lines. Strong winds from the SW mean instability will be most found on NW, N, NE, and E-facing aspects. Terrain features that are sheltered and act as deposition zones should be treated as suspects. Common examples are concave slopes, sheltered gullies, and open areas just below ridgelines. Wind slabs vary in depth and density by nature due to the influence of wind transport, watch for blowing snow, cracking, or collapsing under your sled/ ski, and look for visual clues such as wind ripples in the snow.

    Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today. 

    8000', Willow Flat, wind affected snow

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Wind-sheltered terrain will allow new snow to fall uninterrupted and form storm slabs below the treeline. Last week after 6 inches of snow we were able to trigger storm slab avalanches on test slopes mid-storm. New snow totaling 2-3ft means their storm slabs will be much larger in size and have heavier consequences if triggered. Areas of concern that could act as trigger points included steep trees, convex rollovers and steep start zones. Letting time bond the new snow to the old snowpack over the next few days is key to avoiding this avalanche problem.If you do enter steep trees in the coming days clue yourself in on how the storm snow is behaving by feeling for dense snow on top of softer snow with a quick pit, watching for settlement cones around trees, and performing a  ski/ sled cut on a safe test slope.

Avalanche Discussion

  • The concern for a persistent slab problem that ESAC and SAC have seen within their forecast area remains,  we spent last week digging in the snow, looking for a persistent slab problem, but we were unable to locate one within the BWRA. That doesn't mean it is not there necessarily, we may have not found evidence of it where we dug. Let us know what you see by submitting an observation https://bridgeportavalanchecenter.org/observations/#/form
  • We did find near crust facets 40cm deep on an N slope at 40cm just below a rain crust. Our test result of  ECTN23 revealed no propagation within the snowpack in that area.
  • The permit box is dug out,  at the people's gate trail head, Remember to grab one free permit per person at the Trailhead or go to __https://bridgeportavalanchecenter.org/permits/_ to fill out one online.

Regions covered