At least 10 skiers in California are missing as of Tuesday evening, after an avalanche blanketed a mountain near Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, according to local authorities.

Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post that six skiers in a group of 16 have survived the avalanche and are waiting to be rescued, but the other 10 skiers are still missing. The group consisted of four ski guides with 12 clients. 

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Pacific time, during a winter storm and comes after the Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning for Tuesday, which will remain in effect through 5 a.m. local time Wednesday. 

"Highly skilled rescue ski teams have departed from both Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center to make their way to the six known survivors, who have been directed to shelter in place as best they can in the conditions," the sheriff's office said. "Weather conditions remain highly dangerous."

The disappearance also comes after two people were killed in avalanches in California during the 2025-2026 snow season so far. There have been a total of six reported deaths from avalanches nationwide this season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.