3 Dead In Weekend Avalanche Near Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH, WA — Authorities fear three people are dead after an avalanche in the backcountry near Leavenworth on Sunday. The Northwest Avalanche Center provided preliminary details about the incident Tuesday.

According to NWAC officials, the avalanche occurred on Colchuck Peak while a group of six backcountry hikers was in the area, overtaking and burying three people. A fourth person was injured and evacuated from the mountain by search and rescue teams.

The Seattle Times reported the victims were a 53-year-old Connecticut man, a 60-year-old New York woman, and a 66-year-old New Jersey man.

An NWAC spokesperson told Patch no avalanche warnings were active in the area Sunday.

Several mountain regions were under warnings Monday and Tuesday, including Snoqualmie and Stevens passes, with dangerous conditions expected in the Cascades as more winter weather moves across the region.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday afternoon for elevations above 2,000 feet, forecasting 6 to 15 inches of new snow and wind gusts as high as 45 mph.

The NWAC said rescue efforts were ongoing at Colchuck Peak and officials are working with the Chelan County Sheriff's Office to share more information on the incident as it becomes available.