You know about weather forecasters. What about avalanche forecasters?

Fresh snow brings an increased amount of interest from backcountry winter sports enthusiasts who seek the adventure of untracked snow and challenging terrain. In recent years, the number of people enjoying the backcountry has risen dramatically.

As the number of new people in backcountry continues to grow, the need for Avalanche Centers around the country to increase avalanche awareness, provide avalanche forecasts, education, and data, and reduce avalanche impacts has become more important than ever. This is especially important in the transition from winter to spring – when avalanches are more likely to occur.

The Bridgeport Avalanche Center is one of 14 Forest Service avalanche centers. It is managed by the Bridgeport Ranger District on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in California. Here they forecast snowpack conditions and avalanche danger for the 7,250-acre Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area. This area, which is typically open from December to April, is located on Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in eastern California. It is about two hours from Reno, Nevada, and about 20 minutes north of Bridgeport, California.

“This winter recreation area boasts some of the most snowfall in the entire state, ensuring that conditions are top caliber throughout the season,” said Joe Soccio, Avalanche specialist for the Bridgeport Avalanche Center.

Forecasting avalanches

The Bridgeport Avalanche Center is staffed with three highly trained and experienced professionals, who uses a variety of tools and methods to produce and disseminate critical information. One tool is the area-specific forecasts from the National Weather Service, which helps determine the locations forecasters should visit to collect snowpack and avalanche information.

"The snowpack’s stability determines how likely it is for skiers or snowmobilers to trigger avalanches," Soccio explained. "Changes in the weather, including snowfall, rain, wind, and temperatures rising above freezing, can have a drastic effect on snow stability.”

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s snow telemetry (SNOTEL) remote data collection stations are another tool that forecasters used to gather snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and other climatic conditions information. There are two SNOTEL stations at different elevations in the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area and seven in other parts of the Bridgeport Ranger District. SNOTEL sites are designed to operate unattended and consists of measuring devices and sensors, a shelter for the radio telemetry equipment, and an antenna that also supports the solar panels used to keep batteries charged.

Depth of snow may vary widely depending on snow density and settlement, but snow water equivalent tells avalanche forecasters how much weight, or water content, is in the snow. This is the most reliable metric from remote weather stations that gives forecasters an idea of how much snow has fallen in different areas and elevations.

After reviewing all data collected, avalanche forecasters then travel into the winter recreation area to examine snowpack conditions. They dig snow pits to examine layering, perform snowpack tests to assess stability, probe an assortment of slopes to feel how the snowpack varies, and look for recent avalanches and other signs of unstable conditions. Forecasters can gauge current stability as well as estimate how additional snowfall and weather will affect future stability.

The Bridgeport Avalanche Center forecasters, who have extensive training in snow and avalanche science, use field data and observations to create a mental model of the overall avalanche hazard. They then use their assessment to create an avalanche forecast that is issued on Tuesdays and Saturdays. These forecasts can be found online at www.bridgeportavalanchecenter.org.

This avalanche forecast gives a danger rating and travel advice based on the current avalanche conditions. Soccio explained the rating is based on the North American Danger Scale. While the danger rating is important, it becomes even more useful when combined with another part of the forecast, the Avalanche Problems. Avalanche problems are nine types of snowpack instabilities commonly encountered in the mountains and referenced in avalanche forecasts so backcountry users can adjust their behavior depending on which avalanche problems are present.

“The Bridgeport Avalanche Center’s avalanche forecasts provides guidance for different elevations and aspects and gives winter recreationalists a better idea of where danger is present and what to watch out for,” Soccio said.

You may be able to help, too

One of the most essential components to improving forecasts is through field observations. Public observations for the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area can be submitted at https://bridgeportavalanchecenter.org/observations/#/form.

“Monitoring conditions as they constantly evolve throughout the winter is a massive undertaking that is always enhanced through collaboration,” Soccio explained.

Similar to how tornado watchers and the public report severe weather conditions, avalanche centers welcome public observations on potential avalanche conditions.

“The best avalanche forecasts result from joint efforts between the avalanche center, partners, and backcountry users,” he added. “The more observations received can make patterns easier to identify and gives forecasters a better picture of what is going on in our backcountry.”

Meeting challenges through partnerships and education

According to Soccio, the Bridgeport Avalanche Center has learned to navigate increased use of the winter recreation area and other challenges by partnering with local organizations; state, federal, and local agencies; and partners such as the Friends of the Bridgeport Avalanche Center, Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Avalanche Center, and American Avalanche Association to better assist the public.

The avalanche center has accomplished many things with the help of their sponsors and partners. The avalanche center worked with the Friends of the Bridgeport Avalanche Center to update the website, who hosts it. A partnership with Mono County and Friends of the Bridgeport Avalanche Center allowed for a beacon checker to be installed. Also, the avalanche center partnered with the Friends of the Bridgeport Avalanche Center, Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to install five new weather stations.

The avalanche center also provides education classes to Forest Service employees, local partners, and the public. These classes help students learn how to recognize avalanche terrain, travel in the backcountry based on current conditions, and rescue a buried partner. Classes range from a few hours to multiple days and provide students with the confidence and skills to travel safely in the backcountry. To sign up for classes, visit www.bridgeportavalanchecenter.org.

“Our goal at the Bridgeport Avalanche Center is to provide Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area users the tools they need to remain aware of snow and avalanche conditions during our operating season,” stressed Soccio.

For current backcountry avalanche forecasts in the U.S., visit Avalanche.org.