Group was skiing in snow-hit Sierra Nevadas, while winter storm brings heavy rain and floods to other parts of state
Six skiers have been found after a group of 16 went missing this morning as heavy snowfall blanketed California, prompting avalanche warnings in the Sierra Nevada mountains, closing coastal roads and causing flooding in Los Angeles.
The 10 remaining skiers are still missing, according to the sheriff’s office in Nevada county, California. The group was in the Castle Peak area, where an avalanche was reported around 11.30am. According to the sheriff’s office, the group consisted of four ski guides and 12 clients.
“People go out and use the backcountry at all times,” Capt Russell Greene of the sheriff’s office told KCRA in an interview, saying his office was notified of the missing skiers by the tour company after the avalanche. “We advise against it, honestly, but I wouldn’t say that it’s uncommon, not that it was a wise choice.”
In a statement posted on social media, governor Gavin Newsom’s office said he “had been briefed on this developing incident” and that the state “is coordinating an all-hands search-and-rescue effort”.
