Deadly Avalanche in California Claims Eight Lives, One Skier Presumed Dead
Eight backcountry skiers have died, and one remains missing and presumed dead, after a massive avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California, on February 17, 2026. The incident, which occurred in the Castle Peak area, is now considered the deadliest avalanche in the United States in over four decades.
Search and Rescue Efforts
The group of 15 skiers initially included 15 people, but one individual opted out of the trip at the last moment. Following the avalanche, six skiers were rescued on February 17th, contacting emergency teams using beacons and the iPhone SOS feature USA Today. Rescuers faced challenging conditions, skiing two miles through the backcountry to reach the survivors. The bodies of three skiers were located alongside the survivors.
As of February 18, 2026, the search has transitioned from rescue to recovery, with the remaining skier presumed deceased New York Times. Authorities have informed the families of the skiers.
Avalanche Conditions and Challenges
The avalanche, described as being the length of a football field USA Today, was triggered by a persistent weak layer of snow burdened with a significant accumulation of snowfall. This layer has since reloaded with additional snow, maintaining a high avalanche risk BBC News. Rescue teams have been forced to proceed slowly and cautiously due to these dangerous conditions.
The weather conditions during the rescue operation were described as “horrific,” with fierce winds and heavy snowfall limiting visibility USA Today.
Victim Details
The deceased include seven women and two men, ranging in age from 30 to 55 CBC News. One of the deceased is the spouse of a member of the search and rescue team. Identities have not yet been released to the public.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
The bodies of the eight deceased skiers remain in the avalanche area, and rescuers are working to move them to a safer location for recovery BBC News. Interstate 80 over Donner Pass was closed due to the severe winter storm that contributed to the avalanche conditions USA Today. Over two feet of snow had fallen since February 15, 2026.