sanmac - // However, you opened the door, in a way, for me when you stated emphatically that the the word "avalanche" is an absolute, and I proved that you were incorrect. //
No you didn't.
The use of the word 'avalanche' in written English is an absolute, you can't have 'a bit of an avalanche', you have one, or you don't have one.
That is not contradicted by your correct information that avalanches have degrees - but they have to be avalanches first, in order to have measurable degrees size and strength.
You can measure an avalanche, you can't measure 'a bit of an avalanche' because it doesn't exist.