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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Non-freezing temperatures combined with rain on snow earlier this week is making for wet snow instabilities.  Human triggered avalanches are possible in steep terrain on all aspects and elevations.  There is a high degree of uncertainty with saturated snow, warm temps and how the combination will effect the snow pack. Keep margins wide and avoid steep exposed terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    The combination of +1.5" of rain on 2-6' of new snow,  heat (non freezing temps) on top of a weak layer/bed surface,  is the perfect recipe for wet slabs, but we havent seen any naturals yet.  We were all expecting large wet slab activity during the past rain on snow storm.  

    We have covered the whole compass rose today, as more time and data is needed to pin point where this problem is most likely.  These are high consequence-low likelihood avalanches that need a wide berth and usually don't give a lot of sign before being triggered.  Human triggered likelihood is possible until freezing temps start to occur again.

    Overnight non freezing temperatures since 2/22 and copious amounts of running water in our snow pack at mid and low elevations is very concerning. 

    Wet slab avalanches are hard to predict and very destructive.  Treat all terrain above 30 degrees as "wet slab possible" terrain until freezing temperatures start to occur again. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Multiple large D2+ point release wet loose avalanches occured naturally in our terrain the past couple of days, at multiple aspects and elevations.   We haven't seen hard freezing temperatures at our Snotel sites since 2/22 at both mid and upper elevations.  Though yesterday a high elevation moderate east wind was keeping the snow pack cool at  10k' and above.

    We found wet non consolidated snow on all aspects, mostly on solar exposures but several larger point releases were found on NE aspect above treeline.

    Treat all slopes above 30 degrees as possible wet loose terrain, and know that these wet loose slides, though not as dangerous as slabs, could step down and cause a larger-more destructive wet slab avalanche.

Avalanche Discussion

  • There is a large unknown currently in the snowpack that has us scratching our heads a bit.  Non freezing temperatures since 2/22 and 1.5'+ of rain on new snow with a known 2/10 faceted weak layer is a pretty solid recipe for wet slab avalanches.  But no known naturals have been spotted in our terrain, yet... 
  • The photos below show rain runnels on all aspects and elevations throughout our tenure, with multiple larger wet loose avalanches. Rain/snow line during this past weeks storm fluctuated but it seems 10,200' and above stayed cold enough, as the rain runnels stop at that elevation.

Regions covered