Avalanches: A Serious Winter Hazard
What are Avalanches?
An avalanche is a mass of snow, ice, and debris that slides down a slope. Avalanches can be triggered by a variety of factors, including heavy snowfall, strong winds, and earthquakes. They can travel at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and can be extremely destructive.
Avalanche Danger
The danger of avalanches varies depending on the stability of the snowpack, the steepness of the slope, and the weather conditions. The European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS) has developed a five-level avalanche danger scale to help people assess the risk of avalanches in a given area.
The five levels of the EAWS avalanche danger scale are:
- Level 1 (Low): Avalanches are unlikely.
- Level 2 (Moderate): Avalanches are possible.
- Level 3 (Considerable): Avalanches are likely.
- Level 4 (High): Avalanches are very likely.
- Level 5 (Extreme): Avalanches are inevitable.
Avalanche Safety
There are a number of things you can do to stay safe in avalanche country:
- Get informed about avalanche conditions.
- Avoid traveling in avalanche-prone areas.
- If you must travel in avalanche country, be sure to have the proper equipment and training.
- Be aware of the signs of an impending avalanche.
- If you see an avalanche, move quickly to a safe area.
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