California: one person killed in avalanche at Lake Tahoe ski resort

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/17/lake-tahoe-alpine-meadows-avalanche

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One person was also seriously injured, officials say. A storm dumped up to 25in of snow at top of Alpine Meadows resort

At least one person has died and another was seriously injured on Friday in an avalanche at a Lake Tahoe ski resort in northern California, the Placer county sheriff’s office said in a tweet.

The Sierra Avalanche Center warned of dangerous avalanche conditions for all elevations, stating on its website that there was “a high degree of uncertainty in regards to snowpack instability near and below treeline”.

A storm that swept through northern California on Thursday dumped up to 25in (0.63m) of snow at the top of the resort, said Edan Weishahn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada. She said 1 to 2ft of snow fell in the surrounding mountains over a 24-hour period.

An avalanche at Alpine Meadows in 1982 killed seven people, including several employees of the ski resort.

The Placer county sheriff’s office said in a tweet that the search had been called off and there were no additional victims. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On its website, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort touts itself as a “picturesque playground for families and off-the-radar thrill-seekers”. The property has more than 100 trails across 2,400 acres (971 hectares) , groomed runs and chalet-style lodges. The resort is in Tahoe City and about 7 miles (11 kilometers) from Lake Tahoe.