European Avalanche Death Toll Reaches 149

by admin in RSS Social News. Posted May 11, 2026

The previous winter in 2024/25 the death toll was 70, with the annual average being around around 100.

A decade ago in the season of 2015/16 the figure was 151.

In 2009/10 it was 190.

Cold weather at the beginning of winter in November caused unstable faceted snow crystals to form deep in the snowpack.

January and February then saw heavy snowfall and this overloaded the buried weak layers within the snow.

The vast majority of victims were caught in wind slab avalanches or collapses linked to these persistent weak layers, often triggered by skiers after a fresh downfall.

The latest incidents saw a backcountry skier die in Chamonix while descending the north face of the Aiguillle du Plan in a group of three last Saturday, 9th May.

The authorities say the snow was ‘new & wet’.

There was a Level 2 risk at the time.

In the other fatality a ski mountaineer was caught while ascending the north face of the Aigullette de l’Olan in Saint Christophe en Oisas, France, on Friday 8th May.

“It could be considered as mountaineering – steep face and climbed with skis on the backpack,” said the authorities.

The person was with a colleague at 3,300m when the slab avalanche released.

The risk at the time was Level 2.

European Avalanche Fatalities by Country 2025/26

Andorra – 2
Austria – 33
France – 34
Italy – 40
Norway -3
Poland – 1
Slovakia – 6
Slovenia – 3
Spain – 9
Switzerland – 18

There have been no recorded avalanche deaths in the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Romania, Scotland or Sweden.

The worst winter for avalanche deaths was the winter of 1950/51 when 247 people died.

Image c/o European Avalanche Warning Services.

That winter 98 people died in avalanches in Switzerland alone.

1,500 buildings were destroyed, 234 people were buried with 235 head of livestock killed.

This winter what is striking is that the danger has not been easy to recognise, even for experts.

Most occurred in a concentrated 2-month period from late December to late February.

Avalanche in Tignes. Image c/o David Morgan.

During March and April the snowpack generally stabilised with melt/freeze cycles.

We have reported on the accidents on PlanetSKI across the winter:

What is notable this winter is the number of experienced skiers caught – ski patrollers, guides, off piste instructors, experienced ski tourers and members of alpine clubs.

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