Warming Climate Increases Avalanche Risk: Studies

Warming Climate Increases Avalanche Risk: Studies

Feb 19, 2026, 9:36 PM en

TL;DR

Research warns of elevated avalanche risks in the Sierra Nevada due to heavier snowfall amid a warming climate.

Studies reveal that a warming climate is contributing to heavier and wetter snowfall, increasing avalanche risks in the Sierra Nevada. Weather patterns are changing, leading to drier, warmer winters in the West but more intense snowfall at higher altitudes. Authorities emphasize the combination of heavy snow on unstable packs as key conditions for avalanches.

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