Lake Tahoe death toll update: How many skiers are dead and how many missing in deadly avalanche? Here's the latest

Four travel guides and 11 guests were caught in the Lake Tahoe avalanche. Know the latest update.

Published on: Feb 19, 2026 5:57 AM IST

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As many as eight people were confirmed dead in a shocking avalanche that took place outside of Lake Tahoe, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said in an update on Wednesday, February 18. One skier remains missing.

Lake Tahoe death toll update: How many skiers died in deadly avalanche and how many remain missing? Here's the latest (Pexel - representational image)

Moon revealed that four travel guides and 11 guests were caught in the avalanche, according to the New York Post. Of these 15 people, six were rescued, including one man and five women aged 30 to 55. While eight of the remaining nine are confirmed dead, one person is missing.

Moon added that rescuers searching for the final skier are dealing with “highly dangerous” conditions. An avalanche warning is still in effect, and more snow is expected.

What we know about the incident so far

Moon revealed that the tour group initially comprised 12 clients and four guides. However, one of the clients backed out of the trip at the last minute.

Fifteen skiers who were part of a three-day expedition led by Blackbird Mountain Guides were trapped when the avalanche took place on Tuesday, February 17. Rescuers managed to save six people after they set off emergency beacons.

The six people who were rescued hid under tarps as they waited to be saved late on Tuesday. They are now off the mountain.

They were located after they corresponded with first responders using the iPhone’s SOS feature, Moon said. Two of them had to be hospitalized.

Rescuers searching for the other nine missing skiers faced increasing difficulties on Wednesday morning as the area received nearly two feet of snow. There were no signs of rescue activity at Boreal/Castle Peak trailhead, which is where the avalanche struck Tuesday around 11:30 am.

Mountain rescuers launched a massive operation to find them on skis and snowcats the night before. However, they were left fighting terrible conditions that saw the entire region cut off.

Weather data revealed that Soda Springs, located near the avalanche site, was slammed with nearly two feet of snow over the past 24 hours. The New York Times reported that the roads in nearby Truckee are “virtually empty.” Meanwhile, snow drifts have been as high as five feet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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