Avalanche risk still high in Sierra with nine skiers still missing

"Avalanche forecasters are continuing to warn skiers and snowboarders of high risk in the central Sierra Nevada Wednesday, as the fate of nine skiers missing from a major slide remains unknown. The Nevada County Sheriff's Office is poised Wednesday morning to release new information about Tuesday's avalanche. The sheriff's office said 15 people were involved in the incident, in the backcountry north of Interstate 80."

"Six people who survived the avalanche were rescued, but nine were still missing as of Tuesday morning after four dozen rescuers trekked into the backcountry, the sheriff's office said in a statement. The Sierra Avalanche Center said risk was still high of dangerous avalanches across different types of terrain on Wednesday. High risk is the second-highest level of risk under extreme. Natural avalanches are likely, and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely, the Center wrote in an update."

"The heavy storm had accumulated new snow on top of weak layers in the snowpack formed by a long, dry spell in January, creating volatile conditions, the Center wrote. Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended for today, the Center wrote. Heavy snow is forecast for the greater Tahoe region, with up to four inches of fresh snow expected today, according to the National Weather Service."

Avalanche forecasters warn of high avalanche risk across the central Sierra Nevada, where nine skiers remain missing after a major slide. Fifteen people were involved in the backcountry incident north of Interstate 80; six survivors were rescued while rescuers searched for the missing. The Sierra Avalanche Center rated risk as high, warning that natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely. A heavy storm has added new snow atop weak January-formed layers, creating volatile conditions. Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended, and additional heavy snow is forecast for the Tahoe region.

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