At least 14 people have died in avalanches last week, the deadliest week on record in the United States

Jessen, Moughamian and Nyman are three of the 14 people who have died in avalanches since February 1. This is the highest avalanche death toll on record in seven days since the US Forest Service’s National Avalanche Center began tracking fatalities, according to Karl Birkeland, the center’s director.

Moughamian and three others were killed over the weekend when an avalanche swept through a backcountry ski area near Salt Lake City on Saturday. They are the most recent in a series of deaths caused by avalanches in six states:

At least 21 people in the United States have died in avalanches since the start of the season in December 2020, according to Avalanche.org, a Colorado Avalanche Information Center site that tracks avalanche accidents nationwide.

Why it has been an active year for avalanches

There are two likely reasons there have been more avalanche deaths this year: More people are enjoying the outdoors in the wilder parts of the West and a “really dangerous snowpack,” said Nikki Champion, forecaster at the Utah Avalanche Center.

This year’s avalanche season has likely been more active due to a “persistent shallow layer” of snow, she said.

Snowfall was relatively minor in November and December compared to previous years, and since there were periods of drought at the start of winter, these early snowfalls did not bind, she said. declared. This light blanket of snow forms the base of the snowpack across the west, including Utah, Colorado, and Montana. All the new snow is built on that weak foundation, Champion said.

This layer is also more persistent in recent years, she said. Utah and Colorado are experiencing less snow than usual, so the weak bottom layer stays for months.

The rise in the number of fatalities could also be explained by the increase in the number of people visiting the western backcountry for skiing and hiking. Since many ski resorts closed during the pandemic, “more and more people are choosing to enter the backcountry,” Champion said.

How to avoid getting stuck in an avalanche

Champion advises checking with local offices for avalanche forecasts. If you’re up for backcountry skiing, bring the appropriate avalanche gear, she says, including a shovel, beacon and probe – and bring a partner with you.

The best advice, however, is to avoid areas where an avalanche could occur, Champion said.

“It’s not really a problem that you can outsmart,” she says.