This winter has been dubbed Europe's deadliest ski season... so why ARE we having so many avalanches?

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This winter has been dubbed Europe's deadliest ski season on record, with avalanches claiming 86 lives in the first two months of the year alone.

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As Europe's avalanche deaths reach 86 within the first two months of the year, experts have revealed why skiing has become so dangerous. The perfect slab on a weak layer combination, the prerequisite for dry–snow slab avalanches, the deadliest avalanches for skiers.' This happens when the snow layer is very thin and the temperatures are cold, such as during clear nights. This spree of off-piste deaths actually bucks the recent trend, which suggested that the pastime was generally becoming safer.

Source: Daily Mail February 21, 2026 15:13 UTC