This winter has been a bad season for avalanches in United States, according to Alaa Elassar writing for CNN.Com. Thirty-three people have died from them already in 2021, getting us close to the record thirty-six in 2008 and 2010. However, there seems to be more behind this than the weather. An avalanche of snow and COVID precautions may be combining to deadly effect.
The Climate Factor Behind U.S. Avalanche Cases
Brian Lazar, deputy director at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains avalanches need three factors to set them off. These causes are a slope, a snow pack, and a trigger. This year, the weaker layers of the snow pack are deep down below, with the stronger ones on top. This is a dangerous combination, says Brian Lazar and ‘highly conducive to producing avalanches’.
People trigger some 90% of avalanches when they disturb this lethal combination, resulting from unusual weather patterns. Fifteen of the thirty-three people who died were skiers, followed by nine snow mobilers. Snow boarders, and snow-shoe / climbers / hikers accounted for the rest.
When Avalanches of Snow and COVID Precautions Merge
The coronavirus panic has convinced larger numbers of people than usual to take their leisure outdoors. Dr. Karl Birkeland, director of US Forest Service’s National Avalanche Center says the trend extends across the United States. ‘So there’s more people out there skiing and snowboarding, and it means there are more potential triggers,’ he explains.
An avalanche of COVID precautions and snow may trigger, when people head out into the frozen landscape without experience and knowledge of the terrain. Some are city folk without avalanche rescue gear, Craig Gordon, a forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center says.
When they don’t carry safety equipment including shovels and radio signal emitters, they have less chance of survival if an avalanche strikes. This serves as a timely reminder to all of us to take extra care. When we head out into unfamiliar places for a breath of fresh air.
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Preview Image: Fleeing from an Avalanche
