Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Going into another blue sky, California post storm high pressure for the next couple days.  Terrain choice as usual, should be our top priority.  With varying wind directions look for possible loaded slopes on lee ward ridges and cross loaded gullies, especially higher elevations in challenging terrain. Mid and lower elevation specific slopes have a possibility of larger, harder to trigger propagating instability.  Keep margins appropriate when going into avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    After extreme southwest winds blew on ridges, pre and mid storm on Sunday and Monday. Winds switched to ‘full on’ from the northeast yesterday, switching a 180 and reloading opposite slopes. Be heads up for wind slabs possible on all aspects above and near tree line.  Look for textured snow on approaching and loaded pockets on any potentially leeward protected zone. Stay cautious when traveling in these areas.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Be mindful in of shooting cracks, whumpfing, and other signs of buried surface hoar approximately 40 cm below snow surface. A possible buried surface hoar weak layer in specific north facing slopes could pose as a problem in the next few days or potentially longer.  Forecaster observed data today, found Extended Column Test Propagation 15 with sudden planar fracture characteristic with Compression Test Moderate. These fractures were approximately 40cm below the surface and suggests avalanches will potentially propagate when initiated and are less than 1 meter deep suggesting potentially easily triggered.

Avalanche Discussion

We have limited data from the past couple of days, during and post storm.  No avalanches were reported yesterday in our area, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t possible.  The next few days we should see warmer day time temperatures and sunny skies that will have more stability influences on southern solar exposures and less on north shaded exposures. Stay proactive observing signs of instability until proven otherwise.

Regions covered