Ten skiers were missing and another six were stranded in an avalanche that struck a backcountry slope near Lake Tahoe in the midst of heavy snow in California's Sierra Nevada mountains on Tuesday, authorities said. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has tallied six U.S. avalanche fatalities so far this season. A winter storm warning was in effect for much of northern California on Tuesday, with heavy snow forecast in the upper elevations of the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Avalanche Center had posted an alert before dawn on Tuesday warning of a "high avalanche danger" in the backcountry ski region, the sheriff's statement said. Weather conditions remain highly hazardous in the Sierra backcountry slopes, with additional avalanche activity expected through Tuesday night and into Wednesday, according to the statement.

Source: The Telegraph February 18, 2026 08:13 UTC