Winter Snowstorms Hit North America

11th January 2024

Last modified on January 13th, 2024

A man has died after an inbounds avalanche in Palisades Tahoe in California. Another has died off piste in Idaho. After a poor start to the season, ski resorts across North America have seen significant snowfall with more in the forecast. UPDATED

The avalanche at Palisades Tahoe in California struck on Wednesday morning.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

Palisades Tahoe, California. Library Image © PlanetSKI

A statement from the resort said it happened on the Palisades side in the GS gully area to the skier’s right of the KT-22 chairlift.

“Palisades Tahoe Ski Patrol responded immediately to the scene and completed a thorough search of the area with the help of over 100 resort personnel, as well as members of the public, using avalanche transceivers, probes, RECCO Rescue System technology, and avalanche rescue dog teams,” the statement said.

“A male skier sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased by Tahoe Forest Hospital. Three other skiers sustained non-life threatening injuries, and were released after initial treatment.

“The entire Palisades Tahoe team, including all of the first responders, extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved in the incident.”

The man who died has been identified as Kenneth Kidd, 66, a resident of Point Reyes and the Truckee-Tahoe area, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

A survivor, Jason Parker, has been recounting his experience as he was caught and buried in the avalanche.

“There was nothing I could do. It was just, like, entombed me,” he said to NBC.

“You’re helpless,” he said. “Your only hope is for somebody to find you.”

Parker described feeling like he was stuck in a “tub of concrete” under about 4 feet of snow, unable to move or get himself out in any way.

See here for the full story on NBC

Here is a report form CBS:

A second avalanche struck the same area near Lake Tahoe on Thursday but there were no reported casualties.

In Idaho a back country skier died and two others survived.

It happened near Stevens Peak, which is close to the state border with Montana.

One of the survivors has a broken arm.

There has also been an in-bounds avalanche in Whistler in Canada.

Snowboarder, Bryce Bugera, narrowly escaped an avalanche while snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia last weekend reports Alanna Kelly for the Prince George Citizen.

Early season conditions across the USA and Canada have been disappointing, as we’ve been reporting.

Poor Start to Winter Continues in North America

That’s now changed with many areas, from the west to the east, now reporting that several feet of snow has fallen.

Before the end of this week, forecasters say new storms are expected to dump more heavy snow on mountain ranges in Oregon, Washington State, the Sierra Nevada in California, Idaho, Western Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Colorado.