Skiers reported missing after Castle Peak avalanche amid Tahoe storm

Several backcountry skiers were reported missing Tuesday after an avalanche swept through the Castle Peak area north of Truckee, as a powerful winter storm battered the Lake Tahoe region with heavy snow, high winds and dangerous travel conditions.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said search and rescue teams were dispatched around 11:30 a.m. after receiving reports of an avalanche involving a group of skiers in steep backcountry terrain near Donner Pass. Officials said multiple people from the group were unaccounted for as of Tuesday afternoon.
The incident remains under investigation and officials said details could change as search efforts continue.
Here’s what to know about the missing hikers and weather conditions in the Lake Tahoe region.
Skiers reported missing after avalanche near Donner Pass
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, 10 skiers remain unaccounted for after reportedly encountering the avalanche. The group of 16 skiers included four ski guides and 12 clients, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
At least six skiers survived and remain at the avalanche site. Rescue ski teams departed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center to reach the survivors, who were directed to shelter in place as conditions allowed.
A total of 46 emergency responders are involved in the ongoing rescue effort.
According to the Sierra Avalanche Center, the avalanche occurred at an elevation of roughly 8,200 feet in the Castle Peak area, which rises to more than 9,100 feet near Donner Lake.
The avalanche was rated D2.5, indicating a “large” to “very large” slide capable of burying or seriously injuring a person.
Castle Peak has seen repeated avalanche activity this winter. A separate slide in the same general area on Jan. 5 killed a man riding a snowmobile, underscoring the persistent danger amid an unstable snowpack.
The Sierra Avalanche Center warned that avalanche danger across the central Sierra Nevada remains high through at least Wednesday morning.
“High danger means travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended,” the center said, noting that whiteout conditions and challenging navigation are complicating backcountry travel during the storm.
Major winter storm fuels avalanche risk, whiteout conditions
The avalanche unfolded as one of the season’s strongest storms pummeled the Tahoe region with heavy snowfall and strong winds. The National Weather Service forecast 12 to 20 inches of snow around Lake Tahoe on Tuesday, with totals climbing to 14 to 22 inches above 7,000 feet. Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph, with ridge gusts up to 80 mph, were reported in exposed areas.
Forecasters said snowfall would continue into Tuesday night and return again later in the week, prolonging hazardous conditions in the mountains.
Despite the dangers, ski resorts around Tahoe reported deep powder and significant new snowfall, though many warned of delayed openings, lift closures, and avalanche mitigation work due to wind and visibility issues.
“If you can make it up the mountain, there’s plenty of powder waiting — but getting on the hill might take patience,” Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe spokesperson Mike Pierce said, adding that resorts were operating in full winter-storm mode.
I‑80 closed, chain controls widespread across Sierra and western Nevada
Travel through the Sierra Nevada was severely impacted Tuesday as heavy snow shut down major corridors.
Interstate 80 remained closed from Colfax to the Nevada state line, with no estimated reopening time announced. California Highway Patrol officers urged drivers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, warning that conditions over Donner Pass were unsafe.
Other mountain routes faced closures or strict chain controls, including Mount Rose Highway, U.S. 50 through the Tahoe Basin, and several state highways in western Nevada. Chain requirements were also in effect across much of Reno and surrounding communities.
Officials urged travelers to check Caltrans and Nevada Department of Transportation road condition websites before attempting to cross Sierra passes.
Flights canceled at Reno-Tahoe International Airport
The storm’s impacts extended beyond the highways. Reno-Tahoe International Airport reported a growing number of flight cancellations and delays on Tuesday as snow continued to fall.
By midafternoon, at least seven flights had been canceled, including multiple departures and arrivals to and from San Francisco and Los Angeles. Airlines, including United, Delta, and Alaska, also reported delays ranging from one hour to as much as eight hours.
Airport officials said snow removal crews were actively working to keep runways open but cautioned that weather-related delays and cancellations were likely to continue.
Schools closed, services disrupted across the region
Hazardous weather forced widespread closures across northern Nevada and the eastern Sierra. The Washoe County School District canceled classes Tuesday, while multiple school districts, colleges and state offices across the region also shut down or shifted to remote operations.
Community services were disrupted as well. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada canceled mobile food distributions scheduled for Tuesday and rescheduled several programs for later in the week.
Search continues as officials urge caution
As search and rescue efforts continued near Castle Peak, officials emphasized that backcountry conditions remain extremely dangerous and urged outdoor enthusiasts to avoid avalanche terrain.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said the situation is developing and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
For now, authorities stressed a simple message for the storm-stricken region: stay home if you can, delay travel if possible, and respect the hazards posed by the powerful winter weather gripping the Sierra Nevada.
(This story has been updated with new information.)