Avalanche Forecast Translation

This avalanche translation of the Meteo France avalanche bulletin is produced mainly through an automated translation tool. Please use it in conjunction with the French bulletin found at the above link.

N74061211
SNOW AND AVALANCHE INFORMATION  of HAUTE-SAVOIE
(Valid off marked trails and open)
The written THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER 2007
Information from reduced

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Between 2 in the evening on Sunday 2 and 4 in the morning on Tuesday, the snow conditions are much improved on the massive Haute Savoie. Despite a beautiful and sweet day Wednesday 5, it is still white this morning over 1000/1100 m according to the valleys. At 1200 m, the thickness of snow on the ground reached 10 to 15 cm. At 1500 m, ... 30/40 cm. At 2000 m, ... 60 cm. And at 2500 m, ... 80 cm.

But given the tempestuous winds during the recent snow, the snow cover is very irregular with bare ridges, and large accumulations of snow in areas of the deposit.
Despite the new snowfall, the lower parts of the glaciers still have little snow and the crevasses are not quite clogged.

ESTIMATED FALLS FROM RECENT SNOW:
Last Monday, there was 15/30 cm of snow above 1100 m (a very blown snow on the peaks).

STATE OF THE SNOW THIS THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER:
After the rebound of recent days, the surface of the snow cover is changing: croûtée by low regel or wet in the valleys and mountains on average, the snow is hard-packed and even the wind at altitude, especially in the vicinity of passes and ridges. In the northern slopes above 1800/2000 meters, there are sometimes some fields of snow and relatively little advanced powder, adjoining areas
Blowing snow / hardback.

Under these conditions, the risk of sparking a fragile plate, shaped by the wind, with the passage of a skier now remain locally, especially over 1800/2000 m.

TREND FOR THE COMING DAYS:
The next night and Friday, the weather will remain mild, with light rain until mid-mountain to 2000 m. In these circumstances, small cast of wet snow could occur naturally in some steep slopes. Higher, 15 to 25 cm of snow is deposited on the summits with southwest winds strong enough to west, fostering the formation of new plaques fragile, all the more so in the vicinity of passes and ridges.

On the night of Friday to Saturday, a brief episode cold and disrupted bring a little snow up in the valley bottoms to 700 m (expected 5 cm to 1000 m and 10 cm more than 1500 m).
Saturday, the weather will be changing and fresh, divided between clouds and overcast. The conditions of skis become quite good at less than 2000 m with a small layer of snow resting on the wet snow regelant gradually. Higher, we méfiera always a risk of provoking a breach of plaque to the passage of a skier (in the high mountains, a strong north-westerly wind easily carry fresh snow).

In the night from Saturday to Sunday, a new and more active disturbance associated with the air soft tackle the Haute Savoie (limit rain / snow to 800 m and 2000 m). He much snow in the high mountains in the range of 30 cm to 2500 m with the strong wind.

Sunday, precipitation will be intense throughout the day and cooling will reduce the maximum rain / snow of 1700 m in the morning at 900 m l'après-midi (above 1500 m, we expect at least 20/30 cm fresh snow accompanied by westerly winds tempestuous). The risk of avalanche naturally become important above 2000/2500 m, more moderate below. Because of the storm, ski conditions will be difficult.

Monday, the atmosphere will be as winter snow in the mountains, and abundant in the high valleys with sustained northwest winds on the ridges (limit rain / snow down to 600/700 meters).
On Monday evening, it should be up to 30/40 inches and light snow in the valleys around 1000 m, and much more in the mountains. Therefore, the avalanche risk will increase over the hours.

This information will be updated no later than Monday, December 10.