The bodies of 8 skiers have been found after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in Northern California, as heavy snow and the risk of further avalanches hamper the search for a ninth missing person. Eight backcountry skiers have been found dead and one remains missing and presumed dead after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California, officials said Wednesday, making it the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. in more than four decades. They were on a guided, three-day trek in Northern California's Sierra Nevada as a monster winter storm pummelled the West Coast. The Sierra Avalanche Center warned Wednesday that the risk of avalanche remains high and advised against travel in the area. The office said Tuesday night that 15 backcountry skiers had been on the trip, not 16 as initially believed.

Source: CBC News February 19, 2026 06:03 UTC