Experts say the risks of an avalanche should be thought of like a flood: you have to consider both the chance of the hazard and the damage it will do. “Avalanche risk in the European Alps is nowadays mostly for mountain practitioners who trigger avalanches themselves,” said Nicolas Eckert, a climatologist specialising in mountain risk at Université Grenoble Alpes. Experts say exposure to avalanches has been rising with an increase in the number of off-track skiers, who are exposed to greater danger than those on controlled tracks. But this shift has not resulted in a rise in deaths because it has been compensated by better warnings, safety equipment and – in recent years – stable snow conditions. “This massive decrease in risk cannot be explained by climate change.

Source: The Guardian February 22, 2026 16:36 UTC