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.

N74080411
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON TUESDAY APRIL 8
FOR WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie:
Higher than 2000/2300 m: marked risk (level 3),
Lower than 2000/2300 m: limited risk (level 2).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Time variable and sweet, a few light between clouds but reliefs responsible at times. There are triggered showers Wednesday afternoon. Limit rain / snow towards 2000/2200 m. Quantities in the high mountains 5 / 10 cm.
Isothermal 0 2000 2500 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest 30 kph near the Mont Blanc, 50 km / h on Aravis / Chablais.
Wind at 4000 m: Southwest 70 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Quite good. It is fitting the skis to 1200 m in cold northern slopes, 1600 meters in the South.
Quality of snow on Wednesday: on average mountains, the snow increases as a result of redoux and alternating light / clouds, and in the afternoon at the whim of rain. Above 2300/2500 m, there is a layer of 20/30 inches powder in areas sheltered from the wind of Southwest and snow worked in the exposed slopes.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Still slabs by places and of the purgings with the rise in temperature

Likelihood of spontaneous avalanches departure: redoux accelerates the decline but promotes departures Avalanche in the middle of steep mountains. By mid-day and afternoon, it is expected departure heavy snow surface, but generally not large enough to destabilize a skier. Watch for steep slopes north towards 2000/2300 m where the snow layer recent likely to be destabilized by the sweetness and rain showers in the afternoon. Risk of slab build on steep grassy guidance in South West in the afternoon to 1800/2200m.

The risk of an avalanche: brittle slabs persist in the snow surface fallen since the weekend. They are very rare and becoming stable, generally located near the peaks and sub slope failures, slopes north-west, north and east, higher than 2000/2300 m. Very locally, a group of hikers could trigger a rather large plate, it is better to keep the distances especially steep in the North region.

TREND FOR THURSDAY:
Stationary risk.

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

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.

N74060411
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON SUNDAY APRIL 6
FOR MONDAY 7 APRIL

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie:
Limited risk (level 2).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
The next night, restless time with snow / sleet and thunderstorm gusts. Layer expected to 2000 m 10/20 cm.
Monday quickly sunny and warm sun on average mountain.

Isothermal 0 2000 m.
Wind around 2000 m: Southwest 20/30 km / h.
Wind around 4000 m: West to southwest 100 km / h

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is good, near normal for early April.
Departures skis or snowshoes to walk around 1200 m in northern slopes cold, in about 1600 m south.

Quality of snow for Monday:
A thin layer of snow and improperly filed becoming wet in the sun on a hard or brittle average mountains, sometimes on an old coat powder remained in the north higher than 2000 meters. In high mountain snow often wavy, powdery housed in the corners of high winds.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SLABS WITH WORK AND NATURAL NO TRIVIAL.
The new slabs from the layer of the night, are expected to locate near the passes and peaks, and be modest in size but can be broken by the mere passage of a person. Some slabs, the oldest and coarse, are still in place higher than 2500 m in slope rather geared more towards the north and bars seracs in portions of corridors.
On Monday, castings and small avalanches of snow will trigger s'humidifiant (natural or caused by one person) in steep, moreover mixed. Activity probably more intense around mid-day. These flows remain modest in size but in certain situations topographic (corridor bottleneck, rock) the consequences could be amplified. Of therefore take into account the ground.

TREND LATER RISK:
Tuesday, windy and variable time, a level of risk stationary.

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

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.

N74030411
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON THURSDAY APRIL 3
FOR FRIDAY APRIL 4

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:

All massive Haute-Savoie: limited risk (level 2).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
Dry weather, a few clouds to 1500 m in the early morning in the valleys, sunny in the mountains. In the afternoon, alternating sun and Cumulus spring. Temperature at 2000 m: -7 and -2 DG.
Isothermal 0 1200 1800 m.
Wind at 2000 m: North-east 30 km / h in the Mont Blanc, 40 km / h on Aravis / Chablais.
Wind at 4000 m: North-east 60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Well, close to the averages for early April. It is therefore fitting the ski slopes 1300 m in cold North, 1600 m in the South.
Quality of snow Thursday: snow surface increases and keeps a little skis below 2200 m in northern slopes and up to 2500 m in the South. At higher elevations, snow and cold is more lightly. In the high mountains and on the crests of Chablais, prone zones may be a bit compacted by Bise.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: rare slabs and castings

From Monday to Wednesday, it fell between 20 and 40 cm of snow in two stages. The snow surface is in the process of settling. It is based on sub-layers rather stable (with a few exceptions, particularly in areas of high altitude cold).

The risk of an avalanche: a few slabs were formed in the recent snow and with the north wind aloft. They are likely to break with the passage of a group of hikers, more rarely of one person. These slabs are mainly located near the peak and slope failures in North-West and East, especially above 2300 meters.

Likelihood of spontaneous departure Avalanche: After several hours of sunshine, small surface purges occur. Watch for steep oriented South-East, South and West, particularly in the sheltered sides of the Bise and under the cliffs where warming is more effective. These avalanches are limited for the most part to small cast, but a volume slightly higher could stall to 2000 m west in the afternoon.

TREND FOR SATURDAY:
The decline continues, but it should be expected to cast a little more gentle with the sun in April.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter every day to 16h or sooner if conditions warrant nivométéorologiques.

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.

N74310311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON MONDAY 31 MARCH
FOR TUESDAY APRIL 1
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie: limited risk (level 2) that evolves marked risk (level 3) with the sun

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
Cloudy tonight, the sky brightened especially at high altitudes. Rather cloudy Tuesday with cumulus clouds on average mountain

Isothermal 0 1700 2200 m.
Wind around 2000 m: north-east, 30 km / h.
Wind around 4000 m: low turning north in the afternoon.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
It's good for early April, skis or snowshoes can be put on from 1200/1300 m in the north.
At 1500 meters, measuring 20 cm to more than 1 m of snow depending on sun exposure.

Quality of snow for Tuesday:
There is a layer of fresh snow powder in altitude above 2200 m often based on snow or hard crust. Below 2000 m, fresh snow is much heavier and wetter mate at low altitude, it is based on a sub-layer wet well, barely regelée.
During the day on Tuesday, snow s'humidifiera well and will increase on average in the mountain sunny slopes, sometimes even rotten in places. Towards areas prone to kiss the snow is a little blown.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: Avalanche activity in the sun

On Monday, 10/20 cm of snow on average fell over 2000 m, 30 cm locally as the Aravis.

The risk of an avalanche with the passage of a skier is not very important and will be limited to a few departures well located on steep slopes. These potential avalanches are not very large in general, with the recent rolling under snow skis. It will be possible guard slabs formed by wind kiss rather towards the peaks above sea level.

By day Tuesday, it is to be expected fairly quickly in the morning to normal attrition avalanches and heavy wet snow on average in the steep mountain slopes warmed by the sun, directed primarily East, South and West. These avalanches generally prevail that the recent snow, but below 2000 m, a possible avalanche could take more volume in scraping snow underlying much wetter. A skier could also encourage the departure of such avalanches and heavy wet cutting a steep slope.

TREND LATER RISK: slight decline.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant nivométéorologiques.

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.

N74300311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF MARKED AND OPEN RUNS)
PREPARED ON SUNDAY MARCH 30
FOR MONDAY MARCH 31

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie: limited risk (level 2).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
Snow low tonight continuing Monday. Couche planned from 2000 m 10/20 cm.
Temperature to 1500 m -2 to +2 dg.

Isothermal 0 1500 m.
Wind around 2000 m: South 70 km / h decreasing tonight, turning north Monday, 20 kph.
Wind around 4000 m: South decreasing 80, 40 and 20 km / h on Monday.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Thanks to the recent snowfall, the snow is good (normal or surplus).
The warmth of this weekend at the snow melts at low altitudes but some departures are still skis or snowshoes to toe m since 1200 due north cashed. In south instead of around 1500 m. In the high mountains, big cracks are already open, some snow bridges are beginning to be fragile.
Heights averages around 1500 m: 30 cm to 1m10 following exposure to the sun.

Quality of snow for Monday:
From the snow (not too windy) will be deposited on a snow crust hard or brittle on the average mountain, in the high mountains on a hard surface or compacted powder in protected areas of high winds.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Thick slabs but very localized.
The link between fresh snow expected in the face of this Sunday should be good in a general way. And the wind weakens significantly during the episode of bad weather to recover in the north-east end of the day. The problems snow on Monday should be limited to a few old structures slabs, but few thick.
We think to take setbacks in the steep approaches passes / ridges, moreover with broken slopes, senior corridors in the guidelines essentially north.

TREND LATER RISK:
Stationary or rising slightly.

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

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.

N74270311
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR FRIDAY 28 MARCH 2008
(Drafted Thursday, March 27)

Meteo-France informs you that due to a social movement, this issue may not be released Friday and Saturday. We ask you to excuse us.

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie: limited risk (level 2) that evolves marked risk (level 3).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
Good weather, but the sun is sailing in the morning of Friday with quite thick clouds in the afternoon.

Isothermal 0 1100 2000 m.
Wind around 2000 m: Slow.
Wind around 4000 m: Slow in the night and then northwest 60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Thanks to the recent snowfall, snow was quite normal for the end of March. The ground is white at low altitudes and can even make departures skis or snowshoes to toe when about 1200 m, with attention to rocks and other obstacles barely hidden.

Quality of snow for Friday:
At daybreak, snow will crust at low altitude while above it will be remained cold, and even an excellent powder in the high mountains. During the day, the snow will become progressively wetter in the sunny slopes mid-altitude until about 2000 to 2500 m depending on the thickness of sails cloudy and direction of slopes.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Risk of slabs fairly limited but increasing spontaneous activity in the sun.

The important layer of cold snow fell in a week, thick 2000 m from 50 to 60 cm on average, continues to build gradually. However, Friday, a skier can still trigger rare wind slabs in areas where snow has remained cold. It will be guard in the very steep slopes still loaded with powdery snow as a small casting could become significant in the course of its trajectory.
It will be even more guard in the very steep slopes of northern slopes above 2000 meters, because very few triggers large slabs carrying more than one meter of snow are possible, especially if the snow is relatively low.

On the other hand, the strong spring sun, it is not too veiled, will cause quite a lot of spontaneous avalanches in the sunny slopes. This mainly heavy snow avalanche on average mountain until 2000 2500m. Moreover rare spontaneous departures in powdery snow will be possible at higher elevations.

TREND LATER RISK:
Saturday, the risk of outbreak of slabs drops. By contrast, activity in avalanche spontaneous wet snow will be on the rise.

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

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.

N74250311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OUT OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON TUESDAY 25 MARCH
FOR WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie:
Higher than 2000 m: marked risk (level 3)
Lower than 2000 mm limited risk (level 2)

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Cloudy night from Tuesday to Wednesday and Wednesday early morning and then pretty nice periods of sunshine in a sweet atmosphere.
Temperatures planned to 1500 m 2 to -8 (shadow).

Isothermal 0 1500 m.
Wind around 2000 m: low.
Wind around 4000 m: Northwest 100 km / h decreasing 50 mph and turning west Wednesday afternoon.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They become very good for a late March, circa 1000 m there are 20 to 55 cm, circa 1500 m to 80 cm of snow total 1m35. It is white until at very low altitude.
This is an opportunity to make departures skis or snowshoes to toe when 1000/1200 m, paying attention to the rocks and other obstacles barely hidden.

Quality of snow for Wednesday: often still of good powder, but that will grow fast enough under the influence of the sun. Around the mid-mountain peaks, snow is blown and wavy, or a thin layer of powdery snow covering very hard, even icy. Large mountain slopes exposed to the northwest are also in compacted snow.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Some localized accumulations fragile and departures heating.
For two weeks, the episodes have succeeded disturbed, the most important being that of Friday, March 21 accompanied by stormy winds from the west to southwest. This Tuesday morning, the snow was 20/30 cm since 1000 m (lower layers in the MT-Blanc), the wind was blowing northwest storm last night.
The snowpack is still moderately to weakly bonded, we should avoid steep slopes near the passes and peaks and slopes failures as the risk remains important to break a slab to a depth sometimes close to 1m. Wednesday under the influence of the sun (caution north), those risks will gradually decline or even disappear in mid mountain. At the opposite, in the corridors and walls, the heat will result in purges (in the morning between east and south), which may give some fairly large avalanches (as in Aravis). Although thus take into account the risks for a hike even on a plateau but with steep slopes nearby. Beware also cornices, some are already fractured into 2000/2500 m.

TREND LATER RISK:
A new layer of snow is expected overnight Wednesday to Thursday (20 cm to 2000 m).
The risks are expected to remain stationary.

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

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.

N74240311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON MONDAY 24 MARCH
FOR TUESDAY 25 MARCH
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie:
Below 1800 m: marked risk (level 3)
Above 1800 m: marked risk (level 3) operating locally in high risk (level 4).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
Snow windy during the night. Tuesday, still snowfall gradually weakening in the morning, sunny in the afternoon. Quantities of fresh snow expected since Monday afternoon: 20/25 cm at 1000 m, locally 30/40 cm above 2000 m.
Isothermal 0 DG: 800 m.
Wind at 2000 m: West 50 and 30 km/h.
Wind at 4000 m: Northwest 110 km/h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
With winter moved over the past few days, snow has improved markedly. At 1000 m on Monday, measuring between 20 and 40 cm, and 1500 m in the north a little more than 1 m of snow.
Quality of snow for Tuesday: there will be a good layer of snow, light and powdery, and worked blown by the wind in exposed areas. At low altitude, the layer of snow based on a sub-layer crust.  With warm in the afternoon, the snow will increase to below 1800 m and humidify itself in a little sun at low altitude.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Fragile slabs and few natural avalanches quite large.

The heavy snow last Friday were packed and stabilized as a whole. Instability comes essentially from the fresh snow surface and blown the night based on a cold and snow lightly.

The risk of an avalanche of hard or brittle slabs will be marked Tuesday, particularly in areas where the accumulation of snow blown by the night will be filed, thus shifted away from the peaks or the big breaks slopes but also possible but a more localized in the morning. Tuesday afternoon, with light, the risk of brittle slab could rise another notch and the same well below peaks. The mere passage of a skier in this case could trigger the slab. The slabs themselves may not be thick but the resulting avalanche that could take in a large volume slope towards the thickness of snow and cold anywhere.

As to the risk of avalanches, it will gradually increase with the snowfall by Tuesday noon in a few steep slopes before faltering in the afternoon. Again, these avalanches dusters could be locally heavy enough for the thickness of snow anywhere especially in the case of departure-2000 m.

TREND LATER RISK: Risk down slightly for Wednesday
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant nivométéorologiques.

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.

N74220311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF MARKED AND OPEN RUNS)
PREPARED ON SATURDAY MARCH 22
FOR SUNDAY MARCH 23
ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING:
Massif du Mont Blanc: marked risk (level 3), Approaching a high risk (level 4) during the day.
Massive Aravis and Chablais:
A more 1800/2000 m: marked risk (level 3), close to a high risk (level 4) during the day.
Unless 1800/2000 m: limited risk (level 2), close to a marked risk (level 3) during the day.

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING:
Even some low snowfall this Saturday afternoon taking a character giboulées (5 / 10 cm of snow) and then lull during night and part of Sunday morning under a sky divided between some light passages cloudy . Return to strength of clouds and snow giboulées Sunday mid-day and afternoon (10/20 inches of snow and cold light).
Temperatures 1500 m: -4 to -7 degrees.
Isothermal 0 DG: plain in the morning, then to 900 m Sunday afternoon.
Isothermal -10 DG: 2000 to 2200 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest tonight then north Sunday, 20/30 km / h.
Wind at 4000 m: north-west then north, 20/30 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They are excellent in view of the beautiful and abundant snowfall fresh recent 36 hours. Indeed, the thickness of the snowpack is now higher than normal for this time of year, including in the valley bottoms to 1000 m.
At 1000 m, measuring 30/50 cm of snow on the ground according to the valleys and much more in altitude ...
Quality of snow this Sunday: powder on a good thickness. It increases slightly below 1600 m, particularly in the eastern and southern slopes and on replats, but remains cold and light a little higher on average mountain. Nearly peaks and high altitude, there are important irregularities thick snow because of stormy winds on Friday. Expect big snowdrifts everywhere and even snow often worked closely compacted ridges and in areas recently windy, covered with a small layer of snow on little windy.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Fragile slabs and large avalanches always possible in large steep.
The accumulations of snow reached 40 to 60 cm at 2000 m, 70/80 cm locally in the Mont Blanc massif. Of the ridges and exposed areas, the winds of Southwest blew between 70 and 100 km / h Friday during the snowfall.
Risk of naturallly starting avalanches: the very thick of snow will gradually cup to less than 1600 m, taking a bit of cohesion, but above it is not yet stabilized Sunday. We must expect some purges in steep areas, particularly in east to south with the possible thinning of the morning. A start between 2000 and 2500 m could form a big avalanche of powder with aerosol and spread fairly low altitude.
The risk of an avalanche under the weight of a skier (s): friable many slabs whose surface is powdery snow, were formed recently. Suddenly, in a steep, the transition from one off-piste skier will sometimes be enough to trigger an avalanche mobilizing these accumulations of snow unstable and fragile. The risk is highest in the Mont Blanc massif, and above 1800 m in the Aravis / Chablais. Much distrust becomes the slopes in Northwest, North and East, especially between 2000 and 2600 metres where the snowpack already showed some weaknesses before the snowfall. In these circumstances, we can choose to focus on hiking routes little stiff, avoiding areas and large convex slopes above sea level, or even to walk down.
TREND LATER RISK:
Risk stationary or slightly decreasing.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant nivométéorologiques.

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.

N74210311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF MARKED AND OPEN RUNS)
PREPARED ON FRIDAY 21 MARCH
FOR SATURDAY MARCH 22

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING:

Massif du Mont Blanc: high risk (level 4)
Massive Aravis and Chablais:
Higher than 1800 m: high risk (level 4)
Lower than 1800 m: marked risk (level 3)

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING:
The snowfall continues into the night of Friday to Saturday, about 10/15 cm. Saturday, a little clearing is possible in the morning, but still a lot of clouds. Snow in the afternoon, an additional 10 cm at 2000 m. Temperatures 1500 m: -2 to -4 DG.
Isothermal 0 DG: 900 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest 20/30 km/h.
Wind at 4000 m: West 40 km/h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Beautiful increase in progress. This snow is based directly on the ground below 1200 m in the north, 1500 m in the South.
Quality of snow on Saturday: powder with a good thickness. It increases slightly below 1500 m but remained cold and light in the middle mountain slopes sheltered from the wind. Major irregularities in altitude because of stormy winds this Friday: large snowdrifts across snow and even worked closely compact peaks and windy areas.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER: fragile slabs and large avalanches possible

The accumulations of snow reached 30 to 50 cm at 2000 m, 70 cm locally in the Mont Blanc. The wind of Southwest blew between 70 and 100 km / h Friday during the snowfall.

Likelihood of spontaneous departure avalanche: the very thick of fresh snow had not had time to stabilize. It is expected purges in the steep, especially with east to south under the light of the morning. A start between 2000 and 2500 m could form a big avalanche of powder with aerosol and spread fairly low.

The risk of an avalanche: friable many slabs were formed, sometimes covered in the powdery fell with less wind during the night. The passage of a single off-piste skier can be enough to trigger an avalanche in these accumulations unstable and fragile. The risk is highest in the Mont Blanc and Aravis / Chablais above 1800 meters. Much suspicion is the slopes in Northwest, North and East, especially between 2000 and 2600 meters where the snowpack already showed some weaknesses before the snowfall. In these circumstances, we can choose to focus on hiking routes little stiff, avoiding areas and large convex slopes above sea level.

TREND FOR SUNDAY: Stationary risk globally, fewer departures spontaneous but fragile slabs.
Meteo-France updates this newsletter everyday at 16h or sooner if conditions warrant nivométéorologiques.