Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Wind-drifted snow has formed unstable snow in higher-elevation terrain this past week. Reduce your risk by being mindful of traveling in areas where wind-textured snow is present and watch for signs of instability, including cracking or collapsing snow under you.  Avoiding wind-affected terrain will reduce uncertainty today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs still linger in isolated pockets within the BWRA.  After this week's small storms slowly accumulated 6" of new snow, the wind has continued to transport snow and create instability.  The new snow fell on the March 10th rain crust creating a slick bed surface that made it difficult for the new snow to bond with the old snow.  The continued snowfall throughout the week, moderate wind speeds, and pronounced bed surface have formed wind slabs on lee aspects above and near the tree line.  If you trigger a wind slab it may not be big enough to bury you but it will certainly knock you off your intended course and possibly into high-consequence terrain below you, choose your route thoughtfully. There is a high degree of spatial variability with wind slab problems, as wind transports now across the landscape it s distributed unevenly, with the depth and density of the slab varying.  Watch for a smooth pillow-like appearance on the surface of the snow  and the feel of the snow surface under your snowmobile track to gather clues on where the wind slab is present today.

Avalanche Discussion

  • This week we dug multiple pits on sheltered N-facing terrain looking for signs of the persistent slab problem that our neighboring avalanche centers ( ESAC & SAC)  are seeing. We were unable to find any reactive layers buried within the snowpack.  Just because we didn't see signs of a persistent slab doesn't mean it isn't there. Let us know what you find by submitting an observation.
  • The cold temperatures and crisp wind have thwarted the late season's sun from warming up slopes this week.  Snow remains cold and dry.
  • This past week we received an additional 6" of snowfall, Wednesday we were able to initiate a few storm slab test slopes with ski cuts. the bed surface was the rain crust  from the March 10th rain-on-snow event
  • Cal Trans has cleared the road from shoulder to shoulder, parking is much easier

Regions covered