Avalanche

{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-000238",
  "term": "Avalanche",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "definitions": [
    "A rapid flow of a large mass of snow, ice, and sometimes rock down a mountainside. These events are triggered by factors such as heavy snowfall, temperature changes, or seismic activity, leading to instability in the snowpack. Avalanches pose a severe hazard in mountainous regions, with speeds that can exceed 300 kilometers per hour.",
    "A mass of snow, rock, and/or ice falling down a mountain or incline. In practice, it usually refers to the snow avalanche. In the United States, the term snow slide is commonly used to mean a snow avalanche."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "snowslide"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "wind slab",
    "sluff"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NWS Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/avalanche/"
}