It’s been a tragic and harrowing week in the Sierra, where one person died between two avalanches in two days at two adjoining ski areas.

The avalanches followed a powerful winter storm in the region, however experts say they didn’t expect anything like this within resort bounds. 

But can they be predicted? And is there anyway to mitigate them?

To get some answers, KCBS Radio’s Nikki Medoro and Eric Thomas spoke with Dr. Ethan Greene, professor of avalanche science and director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center at Colorado Mountain College.