Extreme snowfall in the Northern Hemisphere has led to a series of tragically consequential avalanches. In the Sierra Nevada mountains of California the bodies of nine skiers were found, gathered during an expedition interrupted by a blizzard. Simultaneously, in the merciless conditions of the Austrian Alps, at least five people perished under snow masses, including a Pole. The elemental force is also causing a paralysis of transport infrastructure.
Finale of American Search
Rescuers recovered from the snow-covered regions near Lake Tahoe the bodies of nine skiers who were killed after being swept away by the elements while retreating from an approaching snowstorm.
Death of a Pole in the Alps
A half-kilometer-wide avalanche descended in Austria's Tyrol, killing, among others, a Polish citizen and an American who were skiing outside designated trails.
Transport Paralysis in Europe
Massive snowfall means winter chaos: Vienna Airport canceled over a hundred flights, and tens of thousands of Styrian homes were deprived of electricity.
Rescuers in the American Sierra Nevada mountains have concluded a dramatic search operation on the slopes of Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe. After four days of battling extreme weather conditions, the bodies of nine people were located and recovered: seven women and two men aged between 30 and 52, with the last victim found after expanding search efforts. The group, which included highly experienced guides, attempted to abort a three-day planned expedition due to an approaching storm. However, on the way back, the skiers were swept away by rapidly sliding snow masses. Due to the still intensively falling snow and serious instability of the mountain slope, the rescue operation was repeatedly halted for the safety of the services themselves. The Sierra Nevada range has long been considered one of the most unpredictable terrains in North America. Due to the specific terrain relief and proximity to the ocean, the layered structure of the mountain snowpack there is exceptionally prone to fractures. The region remembers numerous historical tragedies, including the buried trails of early western settlers. An equally terrifying scenario unfolded in Central Europe, where unusually massive snowfall in a relatively short time drastically increased the scale of natural hazards. In the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, on the outskirts of the luxury resort Sankt Anton am Arlberg, a destructive avalanche formed with a width approaching nearly half a kilometer. Huge masses of white powder struck an international group of freeriders with enormous speed. A Polish citizen and a tourist from the United States died on the spot, while a 21-year-old Austrian died moments later despite immediate attempts at professional resuscitation. A 23-year-old Dutch citizen swept away by the wave also suffered serious and life-threatening injuries. 30 000 domostw — deprived of electricity in eastern Austria Further accidents happened nearby. Just a day before the tragedy in Tyrol, in Styria located in eastern Austria, a young Slovak citizen died while skiing far from protected trails near Hoher Zinken. Experts and local officials are speaking loudly about the causes of such powerful slides. „Intense snowfall over the last week led to accumulations of up to 1.5 meters (5ft). Combined with windy conditions and weak snowpack below, the conditions were especially susceptible to avalanches” — Representative of the Tyrolean government The difficult and rigorous weather mercilessly tested the flexibility of European infrastructure. The disorganized Vienna Airport had to urgently cancel over 150 flight connections. In parallel, Swiss road services were forced to cut off main highways in the cantons of Glarus and Uri, fearing the burial of car convoys.
Perspektywy mediów: Local portals highlight the impact of climate phenomena on sudden and violent precipitation anomalies, calling for a transformation of the warning system in mountain regions. Conservative media emphasize the issue of lack of discipline among skiers venturing off-piste and call for them to be fully charged for the costs of massive rescue operations.