The term avalanche denotes the descent of any material down a mountain slope, but is usually associated with snow. It means a rapid flow of snow down a sloping surface. After initiation, avalanches usually accelerate rapidly. They keep growing in mass and volume as they entrain more snow.
What is powder snow?
Sometimes huge volume of air also gets trapped when the avalanche moves fast enough forming a powder snow avalanche, which is a type of gravity current.
[yuzo_related]
When does an avalanche occur?
Avalanches are very common in the winter season in India. Heavy snowfall generally culminates into avalanches after the temperatures shoot up and the snow packs loses its hold. Avalanches can lead to catastrophic events as they come without warning.
Though avalanches are most common during the winter season, glacier movements could lead to ice and snow avalanches at any time of year.
Catastrophic nature of Avalanches
Avalanches are primarily composed of flowing snow and air but large avalanches also entrain ice, rocks, trees and other materials and slide down the slopes. In mountainous terrain, avalanches can be extremely hazardous to life and property. They have the potential to carry enormous masses of snow at high speeds.
IMAGE CREDIT: Pinterest.com
Any information taken from here should be credited to skymetweather.com
