Europe Averages 100 Avalanche Deaths Per Year

SnowBrains | | Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
A huge avalanche in Chamonix.
Avalanches claim 100 lives in Europe every year – 4 times more than the U.S. Credit: Planet Chamonix

According to European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS), avalanches kill an average of 100 skiers and snowboarders every year in Europe. Figures are based on reports received from EAWS members and their partners.

That’s nearly 4 times the average amount of skiers and snowboarders killed by avalanches in the U.S, where an average of 27 persons die by avalanche each year. 

Austria alone had as many as 24 avalanche-related skier deaths in the 2018-2019 season.

If you are planning on skiing off-piste in Europe, please do not commit to off-piste skiing without a guide unless you are very proficient in avalanche terrain and crevasse rescue systems.

image: EAWS, 10/18/19
Avalanche fatality rate graph
The fatality rate in the U.S. from 1950-2019. Credit: CAIC
Posted by SnowBrains |

Related Articles

Got an opinion? Let us know...