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We are not including endless updates about the avalanche in the Sierra which is dominating the news. At this point questions need to be answered which will take some time. There is a blog post about the incident with background, clarifications, and questions: https://www.avalanche-center.org/Incidents/blog/?itemid=600

Severe avalanche warning after Swiss train derailed

News about the train derailment with a link to the source can be found in our previous edition, Feb 16

Switzerland issued its most severe avalanche warning on Tuesday after heavy snow caused a train to derail in Valais, injuring five people. Homes were evacuated in anticipation of fresh weather threats, as the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research raised its risk assessment to the maximum Level 5 in swathes of the southwest.

Dozens of people in Orsières were told to leave their homes, and roads and railway lines marked at risk were closed this morning, following disruption on Monday. Several buildings in La Fouly, Le Clou, Les Granges and Ferret were also evacuated as a precaution, with storms sweeping in and putting several homes at risk. Skiers have been warned to stay on marked slopes and check avalanche bulletins.

Authorities were prompted to raise their avalanche risk warning to Level 5 in parts of the country on Tuesday following heavy snowfall through the night. “Large quantities of fresh snow and the wind-drifted snow are very prone to triggering [avalanches],” the White Risk bulletin cited by the SLF read, adding: “Numerous very large natural avalanches are to be expected. Extremely large natural avalanches are possible.”
More ... (The Independent)

State Department warning about avalanche conditions in Europe

The State Department on Friday issued a warning of "significantly increased avalanche danger" in parts of Switzerland, Austria, and France.

An alert from the U.S. embassy in Austria said Austrian authorities have reported "significantly increased avalanche danger in Alpine regions," with parts of Tyrol and Vorarlberg at Danger Level 4, which is considered high, and other Alpine regions in are at Danger Level 3, which is "considerable."

"At Danger Level 4, avalanches can be triggered very easily, and large to very large natural avalanches can be expected," the embassy wrote. "Exposed transportation routes may be at risk. Conditions are extremely dangerous for snow sports outside marked and open trails. Local authorities may preemptively close certain areas and prohibit access."

The U.S. embassy in Switzerland also reported "significantly increased avalanche danger," with large regions in the Cantons of Valais and Graubünden at Danger Level 4 and other alpine regions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein at Level 3."

In France, the U.S. embassy also reported "strong or very strong avalanche risk in Alpine regions in France along the borders with Italy and Switzerland," including Hautes Alpes, Isere, Savoie, and Haute-Savoie."
More ... (Fox News)

Avalanches kill five in Austrian Alps

Five people were killed in a series of avalanches in the Austrian Alps as heavy snowfall hit the region on Friday. A 42-year-old German man, caught in an avalanche with his 16-year-old son, was among the victims, police said. The teenager was airlifted to hospital from the slope in Nauders near the Swiss-Italian border. Three other skiers were killed in an avalanche near the popular St Anton resort, while a snowboarder died after being buried in the neighbouring Vorarlberg region.

Austria has now seen at least 21 avalanche-related deaths this winter, while dozens of fatalities have been recorded across the Alps. The avalanche risk remains high in parts of Tyrol - meaning avalanches can be expected - where two fatal avalanches occurred on Friday in off-piste areas. The avalanche death toll in the Alps has been higher than usual this year, and includes three Britons killed in France's La Grave earlier this month.
More ... (BBC)