Chamonix weather forecast snow report from Henry's Avalanche Talk

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.

N74310111
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON THURSDAY 31 JANUARY
FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
For all the massive Haute Savoie: limited risk (level 2)

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
After a partly clear night, the sky will be cloudy on Friday, with snowfall weak and scattered over 1000 and 1500 meters, snow will increase in the late afternoon. The wind was blowing hard on the peaks. We expect 5/7 cm of snow blown by Friday evening.

Isothermal 0 1800 m. Isothermal -10 DG: 3500 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest 60/70 km / h. Wind at 4000 m: West 80 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Correct but no more and always low at low altitude.
Thickness of snow at 1500 m: just white South, 70 cm in the north.
It is fitting the skis toward 1000/1200 m in the shade, 1300/1600 m in the South.

Quality of snow for Friday:
At low altitude, below 1500 m, the snow will humidify itself with little rainfall.
On average mountains above 1500 m, the small layer of snow, powdery or blown, deposit on a sub-layer re-frozen lasts or crust except in the shaded slopes and sheltered from the bise where the sub layer will consist of an old powder, a little sugar style. In the high mountains, there is often a compacted snow and blown by the wind.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: Formation of a few small surface slabs

The low snowfall expected Friday will not greatly alter the avalanche risk. Some small surface slabs could be formed throughout the day with the wind. Thus, over 1800 m, a single skier could trigger a small surface slab very little thicker, rather in the afternoon. This risk remains generally well-located towards the peaks, or a break in slope. But in the shaded slopes where they usually skied the last few days on a snow type powdered sugar, these small patches of surface could be a little more numerous.

As for the risk of natural avalanches, it will be low for Friday, possibly some small cast of snow wet from the rain in a very steep slopes below 1500 m, and this rather in the afternoon.

TREND LATER RISK:
It will be a marked increase Saturday with a significant risk of triggering a slab avalanche with the passage of a skier. The risk is expected to remain fairly marked Sunday.

Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.

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.

N74290111
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF MARKED AND OPEN RUNS)
PREPARED ON TUESDAY 29 JANUARY
FOR WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
All mass of Haute Savoie:
More low as about 2200 m: low risk (level 1)
More high as 2200 m: limited risk (level 2)

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Time coldest cloudy in the morning with only 2 or 3 flakes. Clearing in the afternoon.

Isothermal 0 1500 m. Isothermal-3400 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest low. Wind at 4000 m: northwest 40 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Correct but no more for a late January, although still low at below 1300 m.
Thickness of snow at 1500 m: just white South, 70 cm in the north.
A 2000 m, measured between 1m and 1.50m of snow.
It is fitting the skis toward 1000/1200 m in the shade, 1300/1600 m depending on the slope south of the slope.

Quality of snow on Wednesday: in the sunny slopes more or less going from south-east to south-west up pretty high in altitude, and the northern slopes of a low altitude, skiing on a re-frozen snow, or hard crust . Few developments during the day except some southern slopes below 2000 m where snow could soften the surface with the light of the afternoon.
In the slopes little or no sun above 1500 m, on skis or on a powdery layer old style powdered sugar, or on a snow blown as towards the peaks or in the high mountains.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: Risks located at high altitude.

On average mountain snowpacks will be stabilized, a rare unstable plaque could persist into the high ridges, rather above 2200 meters. One guard was still in high mountain areas frequented little isolated where a skier could trigger an eventual plaque at windmills, but the risk is very localized.

As to the risk of natural avalanches, it will be very low. Indeed, the return of cold weather will tighten the snowpack limiting the risk to a possible bottom slab rolling on the grass in a very steep slope south more or less than 2000 m, but the likelihood remains low.

TREND LATER RISK:
Risk generally stationary Thursday then up for the weekend based on the expected snowfall.

Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.

Burns Night in Chamonix Friday 1st February

 A traditional Scottish evening, with a French touch, in the company of the Lismore Ceilidh Band, the bag pipes, Burns' songs and poems and of course the noble "Haggis". All welcome, reservation necessary - either book on-line or at the reception of the tourist office.
Book here
Programme

Sundays Talk

If you were planning on joining is at the MBC in chamonix this Sunday unfortunetley your gonna have to wait a bit longer.The regular Sunday talk has been postponed for a couple of weeks but will update the website as soon as we resume the talks.Thanks and check the site for the restart date.

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.

N74260111
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON SATURDAY 26 JANUARY
FOR SUNDAY JANUARY 27
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING:
For all the massive Haute Savoie:
More low as 2000/2200 m: low risk (level 1) that evolves limited risk (level 2)
Above that 2000/2200 m: limit risk (level 2)

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING:
Night allowing a clear regel correct the snow despite the softness in altitude. Mostly sunny and mild Sunday, a little hazy during the day.

Isothermal 0 DG: 2900 m with temperature inversion in the valleys in the morning.
Isothermal -10 DG: 4500 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Northeast, 30 and 40 km / h. Wind at 4000 m: 60 northwest then north 80 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Snow is correct for the end of January on the average mountain. By contrast at low altitudes below 1200m, it is quite low. Towards 1500 m, there are 70 to 80 cm of snow in northern slopes, and 20/30 cm in southern slopes but sometimes there is nothing left if the slope is steep. It is fitting the skis to 1000 m in the shade, 1300/1600 m in the southern slopes depending on their inclination.

Quality of snow for Sunday will be crusty snow and the slopes in regelée more or less south to 3000/3300 m and in shaded slopes below 1300/1400 m. High altitude, there is a layer of snow more or less powdery surface based on a hard, but a powdery often blown cardboard or in areas prone to the bise.
During the day, snow will humidify itself in the sun until altitudes near 3000/3300 m south. In slopes with little or no sunshine, the snow will not change compared to the morning.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: Few wind slabs, some wet snow avalanches in the sun

The risk of a slab avalanche with the passage of a skier now is limited to the few places in the average mountains where snow was blown filed by forming a wind slab. These risk areas lie rather with the approach of the high peaks or a breach of slope over 2000 meters. In the high mountains, the risk of slabs could be slightly higher in some areas relating well below peaks.

As to the risk of spontaneous avalanches due to the softness and the sun, it will be limited to the sunniest slopes mid-mountain, therefore, generally south-east to south-west. Thus, after several hours of sunshine, once the subjected crust disappears, a few drips or small wet snow avalanches may occur naturally, if the slope is steep enough, rather close to the rocky areas and protected from the wind. In a very steep slope grassy ground, south-east to south-west, an avalanche largest locally could take the entire snow to the ground Sunday afternoon and early evening.

TREND LATER RISK: Monday and Tuesday, the risk of avalanche is expected to be stationary.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.

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.

N74230111
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY
FOR THURSDAY 24 JANUARY

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL THURSDAY EVENING:
-- At more than 2200/2400 m: close to a marked risk (level 3), a fortiori near Mont Blanc.
-- At less than 2200/2400 m: limited risk (level 2), upgrade to a marked risk (level 3) Thursday afternoon as a result of redoux in the sunny slopes.

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL THURSDAY EVENING:
Good weather, sunny and mild day.

Isothermal 0 2800 3000 m.
Isothermal -10 DG: 4400 to 4200 m.
Wind at 2000 m: weak trend southwest in the afternoon.
Wind at 4000 m: Southwest, 10 and 30 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Snow is correct for the end of January except at low altitudes less than 1,200 m, where it is fairly low. Towards 1500 m, there are about 90 cm of snow in northern slopes, 50 cm in the South.
During the night from Monday to Tuesday and Tuesday during the day, about 2000 m, it fell about 20/25 cm of snow blown more or less depending on the altitude in the Aravis, 25/30 cm in the Chablais, and 30/35 cm near the Mont Blanc (10 cm of snow around 1500 m). The rain/snow limit was lowered to 1200/1100 m at its lowest.
It is fitting the skis at 1000 m in the shade, 1300/1400 m in the South.

Quality of snow this Thursday in the southern slopes up to 2500 m and on replats, snow surface will be subjected to crust in the morning before it humidifies itself over time ...
In other more shaded slopes, we found generally powdery snow to a depth of 10 to 30 cm in height and mass, a recent snow more or less wind-packed. Indeed near mid-mountain peaks and high mountain snow surface will be mostly compacted/hardened, the result of a recent strong wind from the west then north.
Less than 1500 m, the thin layer of powdery snow, snow blink evil crust behind in the little sun and shade in average mountain.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Slabs scattered, especially near the passes and ridges, thicker in the Mont Blanc.

Thursday, the main risk of avalanche will be triggering a slab avalanche with the passage of a single skier. These slabs will be located primarily in some areas of recent accumulation of snow by the wind in the vicinity of the mountain passes and ridges, and sometimes also in the vicinity broken slopes greater than 2000 m.
In the shaded slopes above 2200/2400 m, this risk will be a little more widespread and not always located near broken slopes.
In the Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges, given the greatest amount of snow, the slabs will be larger.

Moreover, given the redoux, wet snow avalanches are likely to hours "hot" day in the hills oriented south-east then south west to near 3000/3300 m.

TREND LATER RISK:
Friday, the risk is slightly down.

Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.

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.

N74220111
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OUT OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS )
PREPARED ON TUESDAY 22 JANUARY
FOR WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Massif du Mont Blanc:
-- More high as 2200 m: marked risk (level 3).
-- More low as about 2200 m: limited risk (level 2).
Chablais and Aravis: limited risk (level 2).

OVERVIEW WEATHER UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Good weather cloudy with a few passages from the middle of the day.

Isothermal 0 1500 2500 m.
Wind at 2000 m: North-east, 40 then 30 km / h.
Wind at 4000 m: North, 90 and 60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is correct for the end of January except at low altitudes below 1300 m, where it is quite low. Towards 1500 m, there are about 80 cm of snow in northern slopes, 40 cm in the South. It is fitting the skis to 1000 m in the shade, 1300/1400 m in the South.

Quality of snow on Wednesday: The snow is usually a powdery wind-packed except in the high mountains or near the mid-mountain ridges, where it has been largely swept or cured by the wind. The powdery snow will be light gauge to-1500 m. Attention anyway, powdery snow blink evil snow crust underlying evil in the sunny mid-mountain.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: slabs, bigger in Chamonix valley.
This Tuesday morning, it snowed above 1500 m with a lot of wind direction generally west to northwest. A 2000 m, it fell about 15 cm on the Aravis, 15 to 20 cm on the Chablais, 20 to 30 cm in Chamonix valley. These snowfalls were deposited on a snowpack generally well stabilized. But in some shaded slopes above 2200 meters, the snow is based on a low snow cohesion.

Wednesday, the main risk is triggering a slab avalanche with the passage of a single skier. These slabs will be located primarily in some areas of accumulation of snow by the wind, so especially in the vicinity of broken slopes above 1800 meters. In the shaded slopes greater than about 2200, that risk will be a little more widespread and not always located near broken slopes. In Chamonix valley, in view of the large quantity of snow, the slabs will be larger.

On the other hand, a few of wet snow avalanches, mostly small, are likely to hours "hot" in the hills south oriented to the west.

TREND LATER RISK:
Thursday, the risk will be down slightly, except in the far slopes exposed to the sun.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.

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.

N74210111
BULLETIN SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF MARKED AND OPEN TRAILS)
PREPARED ON MONDAY 21 JANUARY
FOR TUESDAY 22 JANUARY

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
All mass of Haute Savoie: limited risk (level 2).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
The sky is covered in the night and then snow falls without interruption Tuesday morning. The rain/snow limit drops rapidly to 1200 m. Quantity approximately 20 cm of snow with a bit of wind from the northwest. Tends to the lull in the afternoon, but still some snow showers especially in the Chablais.

Isothermal 0 1600 1400 m.
Wind at 2000 m: West 60 km / h and then Northwest 30 km / h.
Wind at 4000 m: West then northwest 90 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is good except at low altitudes below 1200 m, where it is quite low. Towards 1500 m, there are about 80 cm of snow in northern slopes, 40 cm in the South. It is fitting the skis to 1000 m in the shade, 1300/1400 m in the South.
Quality of snow on Tuesday: On the average mountain, the thicker layer of powder over of the morning. It is based on an old hard snow crust and often not very easy to ski. In the high mountains, the new snowfall is likely to be a bit compacted in sectors exposed to the winds of West and Northwest.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: formation of slabs

Fresh snow on Tuesday morning settles on a snowpack fairly well stabilized. With the strong winds from west and then northwest, a few fragile accumulations occur throughout the day in the upper slopes near the peaks and passes. These slabs are expected to remain relatively few but likely to break with the passage of a single skier. It is important to take into account the configuration of the field to choose its path, including guidance in North, East and South-East.

On the other hand, a small risk of bottom slabs persist in the Chablais and Aravis. Rare departures are possible in steep grassy surface, orientation South West lower than 1800 meters.

TREND FOR WEDNESDAY:
Risk stationary, training some new slabs with the Bise.

Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.

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.

N74200111
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF TRACKED AND OPEN RUNS)
PREPARED ON SUNDAY JANUARY 20
FOR MONDAY 21 JANUARY
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
All mass of Haute Savoie:
More low as 2100/2300 m: Low risk (level 1) that evolves marked risk (level 3) with the sun, especially in the southern slopes.
Above that 2100/2300 m: Risk limited (level 2), the largest in southern slopes

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
Good weather, very soft. The subjected snow will still be correct overnight.
Isothermal 0 3000 2800 m.
Wind at 2000 m: southwest 30 to 40 km / h. Wind at 4000 m: West 60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is good except at low altitudes below 1000/1200 m, which is quite low. Towards 1500 m, there are approximately 70/80 cm of snow in the North, 30 cm in the South. You can generally put on skis as soon as 1000 m in the shade. In southern slopes, it is necessary to mount 1300/1400 m to find suitable conditions.

Quality of snow Monday: On average mountain snow will crust and regelée often hard in the morning below 2000/2200 m, 3000 m up in a south slope, the ski will not be very pleasant. High altitude, it is usually a fairly powdery snow if it is not compacted by the wind. During the day, the snow humidifies itself on southern slopes adjacent to altitudes of 3000 m. In east and west, the snow humidifies itself slightly on the surface until 1800/2000 m. On average mountains below 2000 m, in the shadow due north, the crust subjected persist throughout the day.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: Avalanche risk of wet snow in the sun.

Different snow that fell since Monday have been successfully stabilized as a whole. The risk of an avalanche slab to move from one person is now localized to a few slopes limited primarily at 2200 m. Rare small wind slabs could form to the high altitude peak with the wind rising during the day.

With the sun and the soft, it should be noted some natural avalanche activity Monday in the sunny slopes. Indeed, once the crust subjected disappeared after several hours of sunshine, it is to be expected at the end of the morning and afternoon with some spontaneous avalanches of wet snow, mostly in the hills south-east to south - west and up to 2600 m south. The western slopes could also be involved in the afternoon below 1800 meters. These triggered avalanches are generally close to rocks or rocky cliffs sunny. A skier could facilitate the departure of this type of avalanche cutting a steep slope overheated by the sun. In many steep slopes on the ground in grassy or rocky slabs, the Avalanche could be the biggest in carrying snow to the ground slopes in more or less south.

TREND LATER RISK: Tuesday, which could trigger a slab avalanche with the passage of skier will be on the rise while the risk of natural avalanches drops.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant.

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.