Updated on
Summary At least four people including three skiers were killed in separate Washington avalanches.
Four people were killed in two separate avalanches near Washington state ski resorts on Sunday but eight others initially thought to be missing were found alive, authorities said.Three skiers died when an avalanche struck near the Stevens Pass ski area in the Cascade Mountains of north-central Washington, Kings County. Eight other people listed as missing following the avalanche had been found alive and unharmed.Authorities were withholding the names of those killed pending notification of next of kin.The avalanche occurred at Tunnel Creek Canyon Road in an out-of-bounds area described as being ski at your own risk. The area received heavy snowfall overnight, and avalanche warnings were issued.In an unrelated incident, a 41-year-old Seattle man was killed in an avalanche at the Alpental ski area while snowboarding out of bounds with friends at The Summit at Snoqualmie Pass.Authorities said the snowboarder was with two friends when he triggered an avalanche that carried him over a cliff and down about 500 feet (152.4 meters)The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center warned on Sunday of high avalanche danger above 5,000 feet (1,520 metres) in the Stevens Pass area, with considerable danger at lower altitudes.The center said heavy snowfall of 30-35 inches (76-90 cm) in the area in recent days had triggered avalanches.
