US Avalanche Fatality Statistics: 2022-2023

The graphs below illustrate the seasons fatalities and fatal incidents according to different criteria. The first set shows the season in the context of the previous 10 years, the second set categorizes the seasons recreational fatalities by different parameters.

We have archived 24 fatal incidents with 29 fatalities in the US for the 2022-23 season. Three could be considered non-recreational snow avalanche accidents - two roof avalanches and one during a commerically guided trip. We consider recreational incidents to be ones in which the parties were responsible for making their own risk management decisions and plans in the backcountry or "side country". Commercial operations could be called recreational but differ in that professionals are responsible for risk management on behalf of the clients.

The seasons archived incidents can be found in the database now, members have full-featured searching and the general public can execute searches with some limitations.

Cumulative Statistics - Comparisons with last 10 seasons

Click on any graph for a larger version.

Chart showing annual totals of all avalanche fatalities for the 2013 through 2022 seasons (Oct 2013 - Sept 2023)

This graph shows the number of all avalanche incidents and fatalities for each of the past 10 seasons. The flat lines are the ten year averages.

Chart showing annual totals of all recreational avalanche fatalities for the 2013 through 2022 seasons (Oct 2013 - Sept 2023)

This graph shows the number of all recreational avalanche incidents and fatalities for each of the past 10 seasons. Ski area in-bounds incidents, roof avalanches and commercial operation incidents have been removed from the data here so the numbers are a bit lower.

Chart showing annual totals of all avalanche fatalities as well as recreational ones for the 2013 through 2022 seasons (Oct 2013 - Sept 2023)

This is a composite of the above two graphs. This shows more directly the difference between all incidents and recreational ones only. During the 2022-23 season there was one commercial operation incident and two roof avalanches.

Chart showing the distribution by state of all avalanche fatalities for the 2013 through 2022 seasons (Oct 2013 - Sept 2023)

This graph shows the percentage of incidents in each state for the past 10 seasons (blue) and the 2022-23 season (red). This graph has all incidents included.
Chart showing the distribution by month of all avalanche fatalities for the 2013 through 2022 seasons (Oct 2013 - Sept 2023)

This graph shows the percentage of fatalities in each month for the past ten seasons (blue) and the 2022-23 season (red). This graph includes all incidents, none are omitted. There were a lower percentage in Jan and Feb during the stream of successive "atmospheric river" storms which were large enough to create high and extreme danger levels. July incidents are very rare but this season there was one, on July 2.

Graphs for Statistics of just the 2022-23 Season

Some of the below graphs include only "recreational" incidents, meaning those where the party directly took personal responsibility for their activities, their rescue abilities, and the outcomes. During this season all but three incidents fall into that category. One was a commercial guiding incident where the operation is responsible for risk management and two were roof avalanches. The total number of incidents is 24 and the total number of fatalities is 29 (or 21/26 recreational).

Avalanche Fatalities 2022-2023 by State

There were two roof avalanche fatalities, one in Utah and one in Colorado. Utah also had one fatality in a commercially guided trip. Each of these three incidents had one fatality and they have been omitted here.

Avalanche Fatalities 2022-2023 by Month

This graph includes all incidents, none are omitted. There were a lower percentage in Jan and Feb during the stream of successive "atmospheric river" storms which were large enough to create high and extreme danger levels. July incidents are very rare but this season there was one, on July 2.

Avalanche Fatalities 2022-2023 by Activity

Non-motorized incidents and fatalities were greater this season than mechanized ones. The one commercial incident which is omitted was cat-skiing. The two roof avalanches are omitted as irrelevant in this context. Climbing tends to have a higher fatality-to-incident ratio for reasons that should be clear after any avalanche class, especially a climbing specific class.

motorized vs not

Non-mechanized incidents and fatalities were greater this season than mechanized ones.

The two N/A are the roof avalanches and the guided cat skiing are omitted.

Avalanche Fatalities 2022-2023 by Danger Rating

There were slightly more incidents in a Moderate rating than a Considerable this season, among those with ratings. The guided case is omitted here but was also in Moderate conditions. A significant number had no danger rating at all, mostly because the area is not covered. A couple were late in the season after advisories would have ended.

Avalanche Fatalities 2022-2023 by snow climate

This chart shows incidents and fatalities by snow climate. The roof avalanches are omitted, the guided incident in UT is included.