Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A faceted sugary weak layer remains a concern in this shallow snow pack especially on Near Tree Line / Above Tree Line, North aspects while days are short and nights are cold.  High Pressure will remain throughout the weekend with solar aspects being heated well above freezing, attributing to loose avalanche concerns in steeper terrain.  Avoid steeper terrain on all aspects as avalanches are possible.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    This persistent weak layer continues to produce high quality Sudden Planar snow pack test results with low number of taps in both Compression  and Extended Column tests.  These results are reason enough to  steer clear of avalanche terrain for the time being to avoid possibility of slab avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Solar facing aspects will produce point release avalanches in steep terrain.  Avoid these areas especially in consequential terrain.  East facing earlier in the day and west facing later in the afternoon with south facing through out the day.  Dark rock faces will heat up quicker and produce  point release avalanches.

Avalanche Discussion

  • The persistent faceted weak layer is widespread through out our forecasting zone in higher elevation slopes that is easily triggered, even touchy test results in the snow pits. But only isolated pockets of snow are evident that have naturally avalanched on steep terrain above 40 degrees.  These avalanches propagated from shallow rock to rock and are also in leeward zones that were certainly wind  loaded during the last storm.
  • North aspect, high elevation terrain would fall into the category of what is called "spooky moderate."
  • Lower elevation terrain in our forecasting area remains dry with pockets of snow in protected northern aspects and varying snow depths and solar exposure dependent.

Regions covered