Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Varying and shifting  winds out of the W, SW and NW  yesterday and last night will make for windloaded slopes with varying leeward aspects today.  Look to avoid those loaded leeward pockets as they may be reactive.  Be cautious while traveling in steeper consequential terrain.  Swirling winds and snow today will make visability difficult at times.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Windloaded slopes and pockets will vary with terrain and topographic changes.  With close to gale force gusts overnight on ridges, and constant wind snow transport being observed yesterday afternoon. This wind transport  is relevant at all elevations. 

    Finding undisturbed, non-wind transported snow today will be difficult.  Look for wind slabs in crossloaded gullies, leeward ridges and wind lipped pockets. These slabs may be reactive and large enough to bury a person.  When traveling look for sheltered terrain which will reduce the chances of encountering potentially unstable wind slabs that formed yesterday and last night.  Strong-cold northerly winds will continue today and into tonight. 

Avalanche Discussion

  • Wind and Sun has created very variable conditions on all aspects.
  • Isolated weaker layers of buried surface hoar and near surface facets under new wind blown snow are continuing to show themselves  in specific NW, N, NE aspects in BTL, NTL and ATL slopes that haven’t seen direct sun this winter.
  • In other areas, we're finding supportable wind board and wind stripped bed surfaces that are barely edgeable and pose possible issues in consequential terrain.  Take extra caution when side hill skinning and snowmobiling in these areas.
  • 3 avalanches above tree line were spotted yesterday, that occurred sometime since the last storm on Saturday 2/11. One of them was (D2.5) and the others (D1). Check media gallery for photos.
  • Good skiing/snow can still be found on leeward and wind protected slopes and in the trees.

Regions covered