In a devastating incident, one person lost their life in an avalanche at the Palisades Tahoe resort on the California side of Lake Tahoe, making it the first avalanche fatality of the 2023-2024 winter season in the United States, as reported by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Michael Gross, the vice president of mountain operations at Palisades Tahoe, informed reporters that the individual who tragically lost their life in the avalanche had been buried under the snow, per ABC News.

Search efforts have concluded, and no one else is reported missing, according to Placer County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. David Smith.

Another individual suffered a leg injury in the avalanche. Both were guests visiting the resort from outside the area, said Gross during a press briefing.

No further details about the deceased victim have been disclosed at this time.

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California Avalanche Strikes Despite Rigorous Safety Measures

The avalanche occurred in an area that had recently opened in the morning, having undergone rigorous "avalanche control assessments" for several days, according to CNN.

Teams evaluated weather conditions and safety measures to ensure the area's safety. Unfortunately, tragedy struck despite these precautions.

Following the California avalanche, the mountain was closed for the remainder of the day, said the sheriff's office.

Palisades Tahoe President and COO Dee Byrne expressed deep sorrow.

"This is a very sad day for my team and everyone here. We're still undergoing an investigation; we have a lot to learn yet," Byrne said.

Dee Byrne prioritized caring for the people involved, including guests, team members, employees, and the community.

The resort expressed condolences to the victim's family and all those affected by the incident.

The California avalanche left a debris field approximately 150 feet wide, 450 feet long, and 10 feet deep.

A winter storm warning with expected snow accumulations of 28-30 inches was in effect for the resort area.

The Sierra Avalanche Center had warned of increasing avalanche danger throughout the day, forecasting "high avalanche danger" in the early evening hours.

Governor Gavin Newsom's office mentioned monitoring the situation, expressing awareness of the gravity of the incident.

Sierra Avalanche Center Warns of Elevated Danger

The Sierra Avalanche Center, which issues daily avalanche forecasts, highlighted the inherent risks in mountainous environments during winter, Sacramento Bee reports.

Steve Reynaud, a forecaster at the center, noted that avalanches are frequent in the Tahoe area.

The forecast for Wednesday indicated a heightened avalanche danger due to a strong winter storm, bringing intense snowfall and gale-force winds.

The avalanche danger was expected to rise rapidly across various areas by the afternoon and early evening.

On a five-point scale, the avalanche danger for the Tahoe region was considerably high, reaching level three.

The Sierra Avalanche Center predicts continued avalanche dangers until the following evening as the winter storm progresses.

While not every California avalanche is reported, the center estimates 15 to 40 avalanches in Tahoe area during the winter season.

Residents are encouraged to contact their local avalanche center to identify potential dangers and take necessary precautions to avoid being caught in an avalanche.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 1 dead, 1 injured in Palisades Tahoe avalanche; no further victims outstanding - From CBS Sacramento