Four people have been killed in two separate avalanches near Washington state ski resorts.
Three skiers died when an avalanche struck near the Stevens Pass ski area in the Cascade Mountains of north-central Washington.
The snow came down on a road about two miles from Stevens Pass and about 10 miles from the town of Skykomish.
In an unrelated incident a 41-year-old Seattle man was killed in an avalanche at the Alpental ski area while snowboarding out of bounds with friends.
Sgt West added: "What the witnesses say is...he started his own avalanche and the avalanche swept him down the hill and over a cliff, which was about a 500ft fall."
The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Centre warned of high avalanche danger above 5,000ft in the Stevens Pass area, with considerable danger at lower altitudes.
The centre said heavy snowfall of 30-35in in the area in recent days had triggered avalanches.
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