This is the US’s deadliest avalanche season in years. Experts say Covid is partly to blame

So far this winter, 32 people have died in U.S. avalanches, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). This is not far from the record of 36 deaths set in 2008 and reached again in 2010.

Slope is obvious. But snowpack refers to the accumulation of snow on the ground.

Each storm brings a different kind of snow, which builds up in layers. This year, the weaker layers are deep in the snow suit, while the stronger layers are on top. It creates an incredibly unstable surface, says Brian Lazar, deputy director of CAIC.

“This year we’re seeing a pretty dangerous snowpack, the kind of unique conditions that only occur once every ten years or so,” Lazar told CNN. “This structure is very conducive to the production of avalanches.”

“Like any structure, you do not want your weakest materials at the bottom, so if you are building a snow pack structure with weaker layers under stronger layers, it is the perfect condition to produce avalanches,” he said.

Lazar says the effects of climate change – especially long periods of drought followed by intense rainfall events – have contributed to the poor snowfall this season.

“This year is characterized by snowfall in the early season that has stuck to the ground followed by a fairly pronounced drought period, and if you have these drought periods during cold, clear conditions, it turns the existing snow on the ground into low layers,” he said.

… But people abroad activate them

With the coronavirus pandemic still raging in the US, more people than ever are on their way to the mountains to enjoy nature and avoid crowds, where the virus is spreading. Many are engaged in skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

Snow Trails, a ski resort in Mansfield, Ohio, has seen a 60% increase in visitors compared to last year’s winter season, spokeswoman Nate Wolleson told CNN.

According to Karl Birkeland, director of the U.S. Forest Service’s National Avalanche Center, this is a trend that is spreading across the country, including many public and national parks.

While more visitors is usually a good thing, the poor snow pack this season has made winter sports much more dangerous – especially in rural areas, where avalanches are common.

“We are seeing dramatic increases in usage in our public lands, so there are more people skiing and snowboarding, and that means there are more potential triggers,” Birkeland said. “The pandemic has definitely increased the number of people going to the country, which has increased our exposure to potential avalanche accidents.”

CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam confirmed Birkeland’s assessment, saying the poor snowpack combined with a higher number of rural traffic contributed to the increase in avalanches during this season.

“People just want to recreate the outdoors and avoid large crowds,” he said. “Skiing on the backcountry offers this escape to some extent.”

But many of these people have no experience with winter sports, are unfamiliar with the terrain and do not have an avalanche for avalanches, said Craig Gordon, a forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center.

“No matter how you plan to recreate in the hinterland, make sure you get the equipment, training, forecast and get out of the damaging direction,” Gordon said.