Avalanches are categorized into five size classes. As a general indication of their destructive potential:
- Size 1 avalanches are relatively harmless to people.
- Size 2 avalanches can bury, injure, or kill a person.
- Size 3 avalanches can bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a small building, or break a few trees.
- Size 4 avalanches could destroy a railway car, large truck, several buildings, or a forest area up to four hectares (~10 acres).
- Size 5 avalanches are the largest snow avalanches known. They could destroy a village or a forest area up to 40 hectares (~100 acres).
See also: