Alps Warning: Avalanches Rising
Alpine rescues are reporting a noticeable uptick in avalanche fatalities this spring — teams blame unpredictable weather and unprepared skiers. (dailyskier.com) Separate footage from March 20 shows severe winds causing a fatal gondola failure at a Swiss resort, a stark reminder to check alpine safety notices before you book high‑altitude adventures. (unofficialnetworks.com)
The European Avalanche Warning Services' tally for the 2025/26 season lists 127 avalanche fatalities so far, with country counts including Italy 33, France 31, Austria 29 and Switzerland 15. (avalanches.org) EAWS incident entries show many victims were involved in backcountry or off‑piste activities, and aggregated reporting puts roughly 85% of this season's avalanche deaths in the four Alpine countries (Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland). (avalanches.org) French rescue sources quoted in recent broadcasts named short, irregular winters and rapid snowpack changes as drivers of instability, with mountain patroller Frédéric Bonnevie and Anena director Stéphane Bornet specifically warning about shifting layers and underprepared parties. (yahoo.com) High‑profile events this season include a February 13 Val d'Isère avalanche that killed three skiers and a March 15 fatal slide near La Grave, underscoring that multiple separate incidents have contributed to the rising toll. (metro.co.uk) Swiss authorities say the Titlis (Engelberg) cable‑car accident took place on March 18, 2026 and killed a 61‑year‑old woman; Nidwalden cantonal police confirmed the victim was alone in the gondola. (swissinfo.ch) MeteoSwiss had issued a level‑2 wind warning for Engelberg on March 18 and several local lifts were suspended that morning, according to the national forecast office and on‑site operator notices. (meteoswiss.admin.ch) Titlis‑Bahnen has said it is cooperating with the Swiss Accident Investigation Board (SAIB), and the SAIB has opened an inquiry that will determine the cause and when the Titlis Xpress can safely resume operations. (saminfo.com)
