Forecasts Back to Winter Weather Page Avalanches are a major unrecognized, weather-related hazard. A leading cause of winter recreation fatalities in he western United States, a typical avalanche unloosens some 100,000 tons of snow. In 1910, a massive avalanche in the state of Washington pushed three steam engines and several passenger cars off a steep embankment. The plummet of nearly 150 feet killed over 100 people.
Avalanches are in general a major threat to life and limb in mountainous areas.
If you are skiing, alpine or cross country, avoid long slopes greater than 30 degrees as they are most prone to an avalanche. The number of avalanches reported in the United States is between 1,200 and 1,800. The number of avalanches that actually occur, however, are probably 100 to 1000 times that number. The state of Colorado leads the nation in deaths from avalanches, with an average of six to eight persons lost each season. Alaska and Montana also have high avalanche tolls.