← Back to the archive★ Support my pages
DD-273Naturealso LocationsFiled Last updated

What Are You Waiting For?

Short answer: An avalanche is a mass of snow sliding rapidly down a slope. It can be triggered by heavy snowfall, temperature changes or people.

The Reel says avalanches can reach 80 miles per hour; typical slab avalanches do, and large powder avalanches can be faster. An avalanche can bury people, destroy buildings and flatten forests. For people caught in one, the main dangers are burial, traumatic injury and hypothermia. The footage shows a large avalanche filmed from a rocky slope.

VideoWrite-up1 sources

In collections:Extreme Cold

More like this★ Support my pagesCite this file

What should you know about What Are You Waiting For??

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope.

    DD-273-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Definition)

  2. Snowfall, warming and people trigger them.

    DD-273-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Triggers)

Video transcript: What Are You Waiting For?: Avalanches Can Reach 80 mph Within Seconds

Did you know, avalanches are powerful and dangerous events where large masses of snow rapidly slide down a mountain side. Triggered by various factors like heavy snowfall, temperature changes, or human activity, avalanches can reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. The immense force of an avalanche can bury people, destroy buildings, and flatten forests in its path. For individuals in the immediate area, the primary dangers include being buried under deep snow, suffering traumatic injuries from the force of the snow and debris, and the risk of hypothermia. Avalanches remain a significant hazard in mountainous regions. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 30.3s Reel ·

Video coming soonWhat Are You Waiting For? · Instagram Reel
What Are You Waiting For?: Avalanches Can Reach 80 mph Within Seconds Instagram Reel · · 30.3s

The write-up

Avalanches can reach 80 mph within seconds. Burial, trauma and hypothermia are the main dangers.

  1. Exhibit A

    Definition

    An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope.

  2. Exhibit B

    Triggers

    Snowfall, warming and people trigger them.

  3. Exhibit C

    Speed

    They can reach 80 mph or more.

  4. Exhibit D

    Damage

    They can flatten forests.

  5. Exhibit E

    Dangers

    Burial, trauma and hypothermia.

Questions people ask about What Are You Waiting For?

What is an avalanche?

A mass of snow.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Definition) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

What can trigger one?

Also people.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Triggers) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

How fast can they go?

Very fast.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Speed) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

What can they flatten?

And buildings.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Damage) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

What is a main danger?

Also trauma and cold.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Dangers) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What is an avalanche?

    1. Snow sliding rapidly downhill
    2. A rockfall only
    3. A flood
    4. A storm
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Snow sliding rapidly downhill A mass of snow. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Definition) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

  2. What can trigger one?

    1. Heavy snowfall
    2. Sunlight only
    3. Birds
    4. Nothing
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Heavy snowfall Also people. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Triggers) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

  3. How fast can they go?

    1. 80 mph or more
    2. 5 mph
    3. 1 mph
    4. 1,000 mph
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 80 mph or more Very fast. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Speed) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

  4. What can they flatten?

    1. Forests
    2. Oceans
    3. Mountains
    4. Clouds
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Forests And buildings. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Damage) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

  5. What is a main danger?

    1. Burial
    2. Sunburn
    3. Drowning in rain
    4. Hunger
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Burial Also trauma and cold. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Dangers) · Wikipedia: Avalanche

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "What Are You Waiting For?." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-273, last updated Jul 18, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/what-are-you-waiting-for/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/what-are-you-waiting-for/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-273-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/what-are-you-waiting-for/#DD-273-F01

Collection · Extreme Cold Case file 16 of 31

Next in Collection · DD-316Glacial Waterfalls →