California: An avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area of California has left 10 backcountry skiers missing, while six others have been located alive but stranded as rescue operations continue under dangerous weather conditions, authorities said.
The avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m. PST in the Castle Peak backcountry near the town of Truckee, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. The group consisted of 16 people, four guides and 12 clients, when the snow slide occurred.
Officials said at least six survivors remain at the site awaiting rescue and have been advised to shelter in place due to the high risk of additional avalanches. The remaining 10 skiers were still unaccounted. Highly trained rescue ski teams from nearby resorts, including Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center, were deployed to assist search efforts.
A SnoCat vehicle, commonly used for grooming snow at ski resorts, was also dispatched to navigate the deep and unstable terrain. Rescue operations involve 46 emergency responders, but officials warned that conditions remain extremely hazardous.
The Sierra Avalanche Center issued a ‘high’ avalanche danger rating, four out of five on its scale, forecasting that large natural avalanches are likely across backcountry terrain.
The powerful winter storm fuelling the dangerous conditions has dumped about 30 inches (76 cm) of snow in the past 24 hours near the incident site. Severe weather has also forced road closures, including major routes such as Interstate 80 and Highway 50, while the nearby Boreal resort shut down operations due to high winds and poor visibility. Authorities said rescue efforts will continue as weather permits.
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