Skiers reported missing in California after avalanche near Castle Peak in Nevada County
Search and rescue crews are responding near Castle Peak in Northern California's Nevada County after an avalanche was reported late Tuesday morning.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office says the avalanche was reported around 11:30 a.m. amid a heavy snowstorm that has closed both Interstate 80 and Highway 50 at the summit.
A group of backcountry skiers was reportedly involved in the incident, the sheriff's office says. Several members of the party are missing, but authorities have not detailed how many people are unaccounted for.
Nevada County's search and rescue team and other allied agencies are responding to the area.
An Avalanche Warning is in effect for the Central Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center. Avalanche danger was rated as "high" from below the treeline and above.
Due to the extreme conditions in the Northern California high country, some ski resorts have suspended operations for the day — like Boreal Mountain, which is experiencing high wind and zero-visibility conditions.
Back in January, a snowmobiler was caught in an avalanche near Johnson and Castle Peak and died. The snowmobiler was identified as 42-year-old Bend, Ore. resident Chris Scott Thomason.
This is a developing story.
