Heavy Snow In Pyrenees Leads To Avalanches, Deaths
Heavy snowfalls in the Pyrenees have led to avalanche conditions that have claimed the lives of three skiers in Spain. The snowfall has been so heavy that many ski areas have been forced to close entire sections.
Mountain rescue teams said they were found in an off-piste area near the resort of Formigal.
Two of the skiers died while rescuers tried to resuscitate them, but the body of the third was discovered later.
The avalanche occurred on Friday morning and the centre said a warning had been issued for off-piste areas because of recent heavy snowfalls.
Some of its ski runs have been closed, at what is considered to be a busy period for Spanish resorts.
There have been additional deaths at ski areas in Europe due to extreme snow conditions. One woman died in Austria after being buried in snow, but her three companions were rescued. (I also saw another report of a death at another European ski resort yesterday, but can't locate it at the moment.)
Environment | Gaius Friday, 4 January , 2008
By TimF, Friday, 4 January , 2008 @ 1:06 pm
We’ve already had 8 avalanche deaths this year here in the other Washington. All off-area boarders, snowmobilers, or snowshowers; the Cascade ski areas do a good job of on-site snow management, as does the WA DOT on the mountain passes. Due to all the recent Cascade snowfall, the danger is so extreme there was an avalanche warning article on the front page of the local paper today: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080104/NEWS01/227188948&news01ad=1
Since the top 2 recorded snowfalls are local (1999 - Mt. Baker, 1140 inches/1972 - Mt. Rainier, 1122 inches) no need to drag in AGW, just local variability.
By Glenn M. Cassel, AMH1(AW), USN, RET, Friday, 4 January , 2008 @ 10:17 pm
It ain’t called “Winter for” nothing.