Authorities reported that six backcountry skiers were rescued alive, while ten others remain missing following an avalanche in Northern California, triggered by a severe winter storm currently affecting the state. The incident occurred in the Castle Peak area, located northwest of Lake Tahoe, prompting a rapid response from search and rescue teams after a 911 call alerted them to people possibly buried under the snow.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they received the emergency call around 11:30 a.m. As a result, the sheriff’s Search & Rescue team, alongside crews from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, rushed to the scene to assist in the operation.
This powerful winter storm is unleashing dangerous weather across California, including heavy snow, fierce thunderstorms, and high winds, particularly in mountainous regions. The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee issued warnings, highlighting that the Central Sierra Nevada—including the Greater Lake Tahoe region—faced high avalanche dangers this week, with significant snow slides anticipated from Tuesday into Wednesday.
Due to the adverse weather conditions, several ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area are closed or operating at reduced capacity. Experts attribute these dangerous conditions to rapid snowfall accumulation, unstable snowpack layers, and strong wind gusts. Fortunately, ski areas and highways with avalanche mitigation measures were assessed to be at a lower risk.
Castle Peak, standing at 9,110 feet, is a renowned destination for backcountry skiing. Reports from the nearby Soda Springs Mountain Resort indicate a staggering 30 inches of snow has fallen in just the past 24 hours.
Weather forecasts predict that regions along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, particularly in northern Shasta County and segments of the Pacific Coast Range, could receive up to 8 feet of snow before the storm subsides late Wednesday. The extreme weather has also severely impacted travel, with temporary closures reported on Interstate 80 near the Nevada state line due to accidents triggered by hazardous conditions.
In a sobering reminder of the risks, an avalanche incident in the area in January led to the tragic death of a snowmobiler. Historically, the National Avalanche Center notes that between 25 to 30 individuals lose their lives in avalanches across the United States each winter.
Authorities continue to maintain a vigilant watch over the situation as they work diligently to locate the missing skiers, and the hope remains that they will be found safe as the community rallies around them during this challenging time.