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2026 Archive Index - All Editions

In This Edition:

The Swiss avalanche winter of 1951 - Part 1

[A very interesting historical review and analysis, watch for parts 2-5]

Analysis: part one of a series on the impact of the avalanche winter of 1951, from protection forests to avalanche barriers and hazard maps.

The winter of 1950/51 saw Switzerland in a state of emergency, with 234 people caught in avalanches and 98 people killed. Some 235 head of livestock died under the huge volumes of snow, and around 1,500 buildings were destroyed. Adjusted for inflation, the financial loss ran into hundreds of millions of Swiss francs. The winter came to be known as the 'Winter of Terror', and reached two sorry climaxes, one in late January and another, just three weeks later, in mid-February. Vals (canton of Grisons), Andermatt (canton of Uri) and Airolo (canton of Ticino) were particularly hard hit.
More ... (SLF)

Avalanche Risk Closes Pyrenees Tunnel Again

The Aragnouet-Bielsa tunnel, a critical link between France and Spain, has once again been forced to close due to the threat of avalanches, leaving travelers and local communities facing disrupted journeys and heightened concerns about winter safety. This closure, announced on January 19, 2026, is the latest in a series of shutdowns prompted by persistent, heavy snowfall in the Hautes-Pyrénées and a sustained high avalanche risk—rated 4 out of 5 by local authorities, according to reporting from regional news outlets.

For many, the tunnel is much more than just a stretch of road. Opened in 1976, this 3-kilometer-long passageway soars to over 1,800 meters in altitude on the French side, making it the highest tunnel in the Pyrenees. It serves as the only transborder route directly connecting the high valley of Aure in France with the valley of Bielsa in Spain. In winter, when mountain passes are impassable, it’s a lifeline for freight, tourism, and families on both sides of the border.
More ... (EvrimAgaci.org)

Guide Investigated After Avalanche During Course

The Salzburg public prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into a 41-year-old mountain guide from the Alpine Club on suspicion of negligent homicide two days after an avalanche killed four experienced ski tourers in Austria’s Großarltal valley. Elena Haslinger, deputy media spokesperson for the office, confirmed the probe to Krone.at, noting that authorities commissioned an avalanche expert over the weekend to analyze the incident.

The seven-member group was conducting a training course focused on avalanche awareness and risk assessment when the slide struck Saturday afternoon, below Throneck near Finsterkopf at around 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) in elevation. Investigators seek answers on key details surrounding the accident. The expert report will examine the tour route, ascent path, weather conditions, and snowpack stability.
Source ... (SnowBrains)

Avalanche hits house in NW Pakistan - Nine killed

PESHAWAR/QUETTA: At least nine people were killed while an injured child was rescued alive when an avalanche struck a house in a mountainous district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said on Friday, as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of more rain and snowfall in the area along with southwestern Pakistan.

The incident occurred in the Arandu region of Lower Chitral district. “An avalanche fell in Sarigal village of Arandu, a far-flung area in subdivision Drosh,” Deputy Commissioner of Lower Chitral Rao Hashim Azeem told Arab News over the phone. “Ten people from the same family came under the avalanche in which nine were found dead and one child was rescued alive,” he added. “Police, Chitral scouts, rescue and local administration took part in the operation.” Azeem said the rescue efforts were hampered by heavy snowfall and the area’s remote location, adding that the bodies were taken to Drosh for burial.
Source ... (Arab News)