Avalanche forecast

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Recently formed wind slab snow in and above treeline terrain remains a concern today. As the day warms up, pay attention to signs of unstable snow on solar aspects. Signs of instability at or near the surface of the snow such as shooting cracks, hollow sounds, collapsing, or roller balls, are red flags. Be ready to adjust your plan to the changing conditions today. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds shifted from Southerly to Northerly aspects this week and redistributed snow across all aspects. Light, cold, and dry snow that fell this week created recent wind slab formations.  Pay close attention to terrain in and above the treeline near ridges, in gullies or convexities, or on slopes where wind-driven snow has accumulated. Exposed ridgelines may have new cornice formations.  The shift to sunny weather over the weekend will lead to better access to terrain that has recently been wind-loaded.  Wind-driven snow could be textured on the surface and firm to the touch. Cracking in this new snow is a sign of instability. Choose your terrain carefully this weekend, especially in complex terrain in the Alpine. Be vigilant in checking for changing conditions, especially in steep gullies or couloirs.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warm spring-like conditions and strong solar radiation on southern slopes will cause wet loose snow to form. The storm snow that fell this week rests on a firm melt-freeze crust, as the sun heats up the surface snow, this recent snow will start to change, and wet loose avalanches will become possible. 

    Pay attention to your timing on solar aspects today. Pinwheels and roller balls are signs that the snow surface is becoming unstable. Consider changing aspects and slope angles to adjust to this problem today. 

Avalanche Discussion

Field observations from Thursday highlighted dry-loose avalanches on all aspects in the D1 to 1.5 range.  9 to 12 inches of new, mostly low-density snow with higher amounts in drifts were present. Since then, the wind has been moving this new snow around into fresh wind slabs.

In sheltered northerly terrain, expect to find loose, dry snow where the wind effect was not present. 

Regions covered