Avalanche bulletin and weather forecast Haute Savoie

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.

N74170111
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF MARKED AND OPEN AND RUNS)
PREPARED ON THURSDAY 17 JANUARY
FOR FRIDAY 18 JANUARY
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
All mass of Haute Savoie: Risk marked (level 3).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING: Fall of moderate snow in the night from Thursday to Friday (10 cm at 2000 m), over 1000 m near the Mont Blanc tunnel, about 1600 m close to "the front country. " Improving temporary Friday with a sky remained overcast.

Isothermal 0 1500 2700 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Temporary southwest 50 km / h in the night and then low.
Wind at 4000 m: North-west, 60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS: The snow is close to the averages for a mid-January. Towards 1500 m, there are about 75 cm of snow in the north, 40 to 50 cm in the South. It is therefore fitting the skis 1000 m in the shade. In southern slopes, we must climb to 1300 m to find suitable conditions.

Quality of snow Friday: The snow is already wet at altitudes where it has rained. Further up, but it will become progressively powdery average mountain heavier and humidify itself under the action of redoux.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Risk stamped trigger slabs and some spontaneous avalanches.

Since the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, it is still down 15 30-1500 m. The recent snow cover is still fragile thick generally plus or minus 50 cm at 2000 m above sea level on Chablais and Aravis, 40 cm on the Mont Blanc massif. This important recent snow is consolidated quickly at low altitude more slowly when it rises.

On the night of Thursday to Friday, the rain will cause, at altitudes concerned, it means essentially lower than 1600 m at the bottom Chablais and bollards, many small cast of wet snow avalanches and some bigger.

Friday, it will be possible to easily trigger wind slab avalanches with the passage of a single skier, in quite a number of slopes mainly located near the mid-mountain ridges or in the high mountains. These slabs are usually thick fairly low, but a possible avalanche could bring a significant amount of snow in its path.
Earlier in the day, with the redoux few departures of spontaneous avalanches more or less damp will likely average mountain.

TREND LATER RISK: Temporary increase in the risk late Friday after-2200 m. Saturday and Sunday, risk up to higher altitudes in very sunny slopes.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.