Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Sunny skies all week and today turning mostly cloudy in the afternoon will keep conditions varied.  Clouds and winds will turn soft surfaces firm.  Avalanches are unlikely.  Normal caution is advised.

• Please submit observations to your local avalanche center
• Varied conditions exist, created by alternating wind directions and speed, Sun and diurnal (daily) temperatures of melt/freeze over the past 3 weeks of almost zero precipitation. 
• Southern aspects or solars are in a surface melt-freeze cycle,  at mid and lower elevations.  Mid January sun is showing signs of radiant softening/melting this past week especially on solar aspects protected by winds, but non protected zones the surface melting has been offset by the NE winds and crusts/ice are found (sheen)..
• South facing slopes-near rock bands, wet surface instabilities are possible. For now, that NE winds and January low sun angle are still keeping temperatures in check and suface crusts in place, but these sunny days are getting longer and that time spent especially near darker rocks, solar radiant heat will come into play.  Roller balls and small wet loose caution will be advised.  Additionally, snow predictions this wknd will be dust on crust in spots and wind loaded pockets may be possible. Stay tuned for tomorrows Fx.
• Look for isolated sugary/faceted surface snow in steep, north facing-shaded terrain next to variable wind board and ice. Surfaces that have had tracks previous are rock hard from wind refreeze, though spots protected in the trees or below tree line the surface facets are still producing soft turns.  Pack your sharps kit if getting into the steeper terrain, seeking out the goods, as the steeper rockier-terrain is higher consequence, higher skill level is required.