Bulletin d’avalanche

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sun
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 2 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Avalanche danger will start out low and be on the rise throughout the day today as a cold storm enters the forecast area.  Shifting winds and new snow will bring the potential for wind slabs to form.  A change in conditions allows for an opportunity to reassess and change plans if your tour takes you into wind-loaded terrain. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    Wind slabs will begin to form in Treeline and above Treeline terrain today. The wind direction from this storm (E/NE) is atypical of most of our storm systems (usually from the SW). Winds are expected to start from the South and shift during the day. Due to this uncertainty, all aspects of the compass rose could get some wind slab in and above the treeline.  Cold temperatures and a low Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) ratio for this storm will create light and dry snow in the Eastern Sierra.  Pay close attention to areas that collect snow, near ridges, and on cross-loaded slopes. The new snow will be falling on a firm, crusty bed surface, poor bonding is expected. Wind can often deposit significantly more snow in a specific location than what is forecasted for the day. 6-8" of new snow with wind loading could produce pockets deeper than a foot or more with the right conditions. 

Avalanche Discussion

A winter weather advisory is in effect from 7 am on Saturday until 4 pm on Sunday and marks a much-anticipated change in the weather that began on Friday night. Winter weather brings winds from the NE, which is not our typical storm flow (that would be SW). Snowfall should intensify throughout the day. Models are not in agreement on the amount of liquid, we could see a boom or bust with this storm. We will be monitoring this shift in wind direction and the formation of wind slab snow. Before this storm, we have been in a dry spell for weeks. Most surfaces are firm and crusty. with the colder-than-average incoming storm, the bond between the surface crust and the new snow will be poor.  Be on the lookout for wind slab formation today in treeline and above treeline terrain. 

Loose Dry snow is also expected today. It is not on the avalanche problem list, the timing and intensity of the snow is too uncertain at this point. We have the recipe for loose dry sluffs to be an issue by the end of this storm, keep that in mind as you venture out this weekend. When the storm comes in cold on these inside slider systems, we often do not get good bonding initially between the new snow and the now buried surface crust. 'Dust on Crust' could make for some tricky backcountry travel conditions in areas where snow is accumulating. 

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