It is the deadliest avalanche season in the United States in years. Experts say Covid is partly to blame

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

The inclination is obvious. But the snow layer refers to the accumulation of snow on the ground.

Each storm brings a different type of snow, which forms in layers. This year, the weakest layers are at the bottom of the snow layer, while the strongest layers are at the top. This creates an incredibly unstable surface, says Brian Lazar, deputy director of CAIC.

“This year, we are seeing very dangerous accumulated snow, the kind of unique conditions that occur only once every 10 years,” Lazar told CNN. “This structure is highly conducive to the production of avalanches.”

“Like any structure, you don’t want your weakest materials at the bottom, so when you build a snow structure with weaker layers under stronger layers, it’s the perfect condition for producing avalanches,” he said.

Lazar says the effects of climate change – in particular, long periods of drought followed by events of intense precipitation – have contributed to the weak snow accumulation this season.

“This year was characterized by a snowfall at the beginning of the season that was stuck to the ground, followed by a period of very pronounced drought, and when you have these periods of drought during the cold, clear conditions, it transforms the existing snow in the soil in weak layers, “he said.

… But people in the hinterlands trigger them

With the coronavirus pandemic still ravaging the United States, more people than ever are heading to the mountains to enjoy nature and avoid crowds, where the virus spreads. Many are skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

Snow Trails, a ski resort in Mansfield, Ohio, saw a 60% increase in visitor numbers compared to last year’s winter season, spokesman Nate Wolleson told CNN.

It is a trend that extends across the country, including many public and national parks, according to Dr. Karl Birkeland, director of the US National Forest Service’s Avalanche Center.

While more visitors are usually a good thing, this season’s light snow has made winter sports much more dangerous – especially inland, where avalanches are common.

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

CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam agreed with Birkeland’s assessment, saying the weak snowfall combined with a higher rate of inland traffic contributed to the increase in avalanche deaths this season.

“People simply want to recreate outdoors and avoid large crowds,” he said. “Backcountry skiing provides this escape to some extent.”

But many of these people are inexperienced in winter sports, unfamiliar with the terrain and lack avalanche rescue equipment, said Craig Gordon, an analyst at Utah Avalanche Center.

“No matter how you plan to recreate in the hinterland, be sure to get the equipment, train, make predictions and get out of harm’s way,” said Gordon.