1 killed, 1 injured in avalanche at Lake Tahoe-area ski resort
One person was killed and another was injured in an avalanche Wednesday at a popular ski resort near Lake Tahoe, officials said.
The avalanche at the Palisades Tahoe resort occurred about 9:30 a.m. above the G.S. Gully area of the KT-22 peak, the resort said in a statement. Patrol and mountain operations teams began a search, and all lifts on both the Palisades and Alpine Meadows sides of the mountain resort were closed for the rest of the day.
Placer County sheriff’s deputies and the Olympic Valley Fire Department assisted with the search-and-rescue operation, authorities said on social media. The nature of the injuries and the identities of the victims were not made public.
No other people have been reported missing in the avalanche, whose debris field was 150 feet wide, 450 feet long and 10 feet deep, authorities said.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was also monitoring the situation, though it was not directly involved in search-and-rescue efforts as of Wednesday afternoon. Brian Ferguson, spokesperson for the office, called the emergency a “local operation at this point.”
“It’s fairly early in their response right now, but the state is ready to help them if the help is needed,” he said.
The avalanche came as one of the strongest storms to hit California so far this winter is expected to drop 12 to 18 inches of snow across the Lake Tahoe area between Wednesday and this morning, according to the National Weather Service. A winter storm warning has been
The avalanche came as one of the strongest storms to hit California so far this winter is expected to drop 12 to 18 inches of snow across the Lake Tahoe area.
issued for those communities, including Truckee and South Lake Tahoe.
The Sierra Avalanche Center, which provides avalanche information for the greater Tahoe area, had forecast “considerable” avalanche danger for Wednesday due to the storm and strong winds. The risk was expected to increase throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
The center warned that “weak snow” was buried about 1 to 2 feet below the snow surface throughout the region, which had resulted in avalanches during two storms over the past week. Wednesday’s storm was expected to pose a risk of unloading the weak layers and causing more avalanches.
Elevations above 7,000 feet west of California Highway 89 could get 18 to 24 inches of snow, while the highest mountain peaks could see up to 30 inches of snow.
Wind gusts are also expected to reach as high as 50 mph in lower elevations and 90 to 110 mph along the Sierra Nevada ridges. Travel could be impossible; morning and evening commutes are expected to be affected.
Southern California could see winds as high as 80 mph as residents brace for an onslaught of chilly weather.
The low-pressure system moving across the region Wednesday into today will bring cold temperatures, strong winds, mountain snow and the chance for showers, according to the National Weather Service.
A high wind warning will be in effect until noon today for portions of southwest California. Winds could reach 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph possible in isolated areas, posing a risk to trees and power lines. People should avoid being outside around tree branches and stay in the lower levels of their home during the windstorm, officials said.
A winter storm warning has also been issued for the northern Ventura County mountains and the Interstate 5 corridor, including the Tejon Pass, until noon today, according to the weather service.
Light to moderate snow is expected, with total accumulations of 2 to 5 inches. Winds could reach 60 to 70 mph, with isolated gusts up to 80 mph possible. Travel could be dangerous, with the strong winds causing tree damage and almost zero visibility.