Two killed as surge in Utah avalanches prompts travel warnings

A mid‑February storm and shifting snowpack conditions produced a wave of avalanches that killed two people in Utah within roughly 24 hours and prompted HIGH danger warnings from the Utah Avalanche Center. One victim was a Wasatch County snowmobiler near Snake Creek; the other was a young skier in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton who was transported to a Salt Lake City hospital and later died.

The Wasatch County incident occurred near Snake Creek, about 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and was reported by KUTV with a photo caption dated Feb. 18, 2026. The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office news release, reproduced in reporting, said: “An adult male and his juvenile son were snowmobiling in the area when the avalanche occurred. The adult male was caught and buried in the slide. The juvenile male, using an avalanche beacon, located and dug his father out of the snow. Despite his efforts, the adult male was deceased.”

The Big Cottonwood Canyon slide unfolded outside Brighton ski area boundaries and involved a young female skier. AccuWeather and Avalanche.org reporting noted the skier was caught, transported to a Salt Lake City hospital and later died; TownLift and Deseret News explicitly identified the victim as an 11‑year‑old girl. Brighton Ski Resort confirmed ski patrol responded to the slide and reminded guests of backcountry hazards, and local skier Keith Kallmes told KUTV, “It’s really sad, but it’s a high avalanche danger - you can’t be surprised.”

Avalanche counts during the surge vary by reporting window and source. KMYU and KUTV cited the Utah Avalanche Center reporting at least 20 avalanches in 24 hours, with KMYU adding nine were human‑triggered. AccuWeather republished UAC material saying at least 30 avalanches were recorded on Thursday and more than 30 on Wednesday. TownLift reported more than 50 avalanches statewide in less than 48 hours, while Deseret News noted the UAC has recorded more than 200 avalanches so far this season. Reported slide sizes range from depths of 2 inches to 5 feet and widths from 15 to 1,000 feet.

Snowpack and weather conditions cited by UAC forecasters help explain the surge. Deseret News quoted UAC forecaster Champion: "The avalanche danger is HIGH on upper- and mid-elevation slopes facing northwest through north and east. Recent snowfall and strong winds have created very dangerous conditions. Avalanches triggered in wind-drifted or new snow could step down more than 4 feet into weak-faceted snow, producing large, dangerous, and potentially deadly slides." TownLift published a photo and description of a crown that failed on faceted and buried near‑surface facets beneath a moderately hard slab; the slope below the crown measured about 27 degrees.

Multiple rescues and injuries accompanied the fatalities. TownLift documented a Butler Basin slide on Feb. 21 that buried two people, injuring both and leaving one in critical condition. KMYU reported two skiers were partially or completely buried near Park City. AccuWeather advised that “Anyone heading into avalanche terrain should check the latest forecast, carry proper rescue gear and avoid traveling alone.”

These two deaths mark Utah’s first avalanche fatalities since March 2025, and they come amid a deadly week across the West and nation: Deseret News cited 11 recent Western avalanche deaths and AccuWeather placed 2026 U.S. avalanche deaths at 16 so far. With the Utah Avalanche Center warning of HIGH avalanche danger statewide through the weekend and multiple agencies reporting dozens of slides in mid‑ to late‑February, backcountry travel remains extremely hazardous and local authorities urge travelers to heed forecasts and carry rescue equipment.