Avalanche Sizes
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Size of avalanche, classified by destructive potential, runout lenght and dimension.
Size 1: Small (sluff)
- minimal danger of burying (danger of falling)
- snow relocation typically stops before the end of a slope
Size 2: Medium
- could bury, injure or kill a person
- snow avalanche stops typically at the end of a slope
Size 3: Large
- could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck; destroy a small building or break a few trees
- snow avalanche could traverse flat terrain (considerably below 30°) over distances of less than 50 m
Size 4: Very large
- could bury and destroy a railway car, large truck, several buildings or a piece of forest
- snow avalanche traverses flat terrain (considerably below 30°) over distances of more than 50 m and can reach valley ground
Size 5: Extremely large
- could gouge the landscape; disastrous damage potential
- snow avalanche reaches valley ground; largest runout distance known
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