Lee Canyon resort, road closures in effect after 4 people reported missing in avalanche found safe

At a glance

• An avalanche hit Lee Canyon near the Sherwood chairlift at around 1:20 p.m.
• The four people were reported missing have since been found safe
• One guest required on-site assistance
• Search Command resources called off by 5:30 p.m.
• Multiple law enforcement agencies including Las Vegas Metro Search and Rescue remained on scene until 7 p.m.
• Lee Canyon Ski Resort will be closed tomorrow and possibly Wednesday
• Lee Canyon visitors describe 'blizzard-like' conditions before Avalanche happened

The search

All four people initially reported missing after an avalanche hit Lee Canyon on Monday are safe, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department says.

In an initial statement after the avalanche, police said search and rescue crews were en route to rescue several people.

"At that time, as a precaution, though no other reports of guests were missing, Lee Canyon employees and guests performed a probe line over the affected areas. An on-mountain search and a parking lot sweep have been conducted," Lee Canyon representatives said in a Monday evening statement.

While the search command was called off at 5:30 p.m., LVMPD, CCFD, and Mt. Charleston fire department crews remained on scene with Lee Canyon's teams for wrap up.

Road and resort closures

As of 6:30 p.m., state routes 156 and 157 were closed to the public as extreme winter weather conditions continue. Just before 7 p.m., Clark County announced the roads would remain closed all day Tuesday.

Due to unsafe conditions further recovery efforts were called off around 7 p.m. until Tuesady morning where more dangerous weather is expected to continue.

Both Lee Canyon and Kyle Canyon roads were shut down at U.S. 95.

Lee Canyon Ski Area will be closed again tomorrow and potentially Wednesday as crews in the area assess safety conditions.

Guests with purchased lift tickets will be refunded, according to the Lee Canyon resort's website.

As of 4 p.m., police were helping people off the mountain amid hazardous driving conditions and multiple road closures.

Roads in the area are open only to emergency traffic and local residents, police added.

Weather outlook

The Spring Mountains have received several feet of new snowfall over the past few days. The area is also under a winter storm warning, according to the National Weather Service's Las Vegas field office.

The Spring Mountains are expected to see an additional 2 to 4 feet of snow over the coming days as wet weather conditions linger in Southern Nevada.

Hear from people at Lee Canyon

Michelle Lee Flowers was trying to make the most of the snowfall on Lee Canyon. She went up the mountain on Monday morning for a ski day but quickly realized the weather was less than ideal.

“There are more people that are wiping out or falling down while skiing than people that are actually able to enjoy the mountain," Flowers said.

Because of that, Flowers and her family decided to call it a day and made their way home through the treacherous conditions.

“It was like a blizzard, you could barely see anything," Flowers said.

Other visitors stayed behind while the weather worsened.

“I'm like this is not good. Number one, conditions can get very bad and we might not be able to leave or like, things can happen," Flowers said.

This report will be updated with additional information as it comes in.