Avalanche Deaths in Austrian Alps Rise Amid Heavy Snowfall
A series of avalanches in the Austrian Alps has resulted in at least 21 deaths this winter, with five fatalities occurring on Friday, February 20, 2026, alone. The incidents have prompted renewed warnings about the high avalanche risk in the region.
Recent Fatalities
On Friday, a 42-year-ancient German man died in an avalanche while skiing with his 16-year-old son in Nauders, near the Swiss-Italian border. The son was airlifted to a hospital with injuries. BBC News reports that three other skiers were killed in an avalanche near the popular St. Anton resort, and a snowboarder died in the neighboring Vorarlberg region.
The avalanche near St. Anton, which claimed the lives of three men, appeared to have been triggered by the skiers themselves, according to Austrian police. The victims included two American and one Polish national, as well as a 21-year-old Austrian who later died in hospital.
In addition to the avalanche deaths, a 53-year-old man was crushed by a snow plough in Linz, Austria, on Friday.
Earlier Incidents in 2026
Prior to Friday’s events, eight skiers had already died in three separate avalanches across Austria earlier in the year, as reported by CBS News. A female skier was fatally buried in Bad Hofgastein, while four people were killed and two injured in an avalanche in Gastein Valley. Three Czech skiers also lost their lives in an avalanche in Pusterwald.
In January 2026, a 13-year-old Czech skier died off-piste in Bad Gastein, and a 58-year-old ski tourer died in Weerberg, Tyrol.
Avalanche-related fatalities have also been reported in neighboring Switzerland and France this month, with a German man killed in Switzerland and six skiers dying in France. At least four people have died in avalanches in the U.S. West.
Avalanche Risk and Warnings
Authorities have warned of a high avalanche risk – a level four out of five – in parts of Tyrol, meaning avalanches are likely. Metro reports that the avalanche near St. Anton hit an off-piste area outside of maintained slopes.
Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, emphasized the “clear and repeated warnings” about the avalanche risk.
Season Total and Snow Conditions
With the recent deaths, the total number of avalanche-related fatalities in Austria this winter has reached at least 21. Experts have noted that the snow cover is “structurally unstable,” and do not anticipate any improvement in conditions this season.