Half of deadly avalanches in Norway occur at moderate risk level, warn authorities

Most fatal avalanches in Norway happen when the warning level is only moderate, despite a common misconception that higher risk levels are more dangerous, reports Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has issued an avalanche warning for the Easter period, even though the risk level remains at two—the second-lowest on the five-tier scale. At this level, natural avalanches are rare, but human activity in steep terrain can still trigger them.

Emma Julseth Barfod, head of NVE’s avalanche warning team, says the moderate risk level is often misunderstood. Over the past decade, half of all fatal avalanches in Norway occurred at level two, with the majority affecting backcountry skiers and hikers. The reason, she explains, is that good weather at this risk level draws more people into the mountains, increasing exposure.

Most accidents also happen in March and April, peak months for outdoor activities.

Finnish snowmobiler witnesses massive avalanche in northern Sweden
Recent weeks have seen multiple avalanches in Finnish Lapland and nearby regions. On Tuesday, a large avalanche struck near Riksgränsen in northern Sweden, narrowly avoiding fatalities.

Jani Sipola, a snowmobiler from Sodankylä, Finland, was nearby and joined rescue efforts immediately after the slide. As editor-in-chief of snowmobile magazine MK, he described the avalanche as the largest he had ever seen, with the entire slope collapsing in what is known as a “Turbokur” event.

“I was sure at least five people were buried under a ten-meter-thick layer of snow,” Sipola said. Rescue teams quickly accounted for everyone, though one Finn suffered minor injuries and a Norwegian snowmobiler was seriously hurt in a separate fall.

The incident was first reported by Lapin Kansa.