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.

N74090311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON SUNDAY MARCH 9
FOR MONDAY MARCH 10

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

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
Tonight 5cm of snow at 1500 m. Monday calm with the sun veiled then back to snow late afternoon. Stormy winds from the southwest Monday afternoon.
Temperatures 1500 m: -1 / 0 to +4 dg.

Isothermal 0 1400 and 1500/1800 Monday m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest turbulent 50/70 kph, stormy Monday afternoon rafales100 km / h.
Wind at 4000 m: Southwest 60 and 100 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Episodes of bad weather have not been very important this winter, the snow cover is low for early March. The slopes between south and west often have very little snow until about 1500 m, and even in 1800/2000 m steep. A high-altitude glaciers are generally in good condition but with already more beautiful crevasses.

For Monday:
The conditions do not change, departures on skis or snowshoes to toe will be from 1200 m, but with just a few cm of snow on the ground in the north will be more comfortable with the former hard layer but fine. Then taking the altitude, it will evolve on a more or less snow blown. The bumps and ridges of snow was icy.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Slabs located.
The snowpack will remain throughout much stabilized. Some, however, deserve slopes vigilance because of the passage of one or more persons might break a slab and trigger an avalanche. Typically modest in size, but that should not be overlooked.
These more fragile areas will be located rather close to the caps, collars, sometimes in the corridors, in directions north and steep. At high altitudes, most diverse directions may be concerned but still localized risk.
The risks of a voluntary departure is expected to be very low, possibly a fracture slab by overloading of the transport of snow.

TREND LATER RISK:
Towards risk rising a notch.

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.

N74080311
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OFF OF OPEN AND MARKED TRAILS)
PREPARED ON SATURDAY MARCH 8
FOR SUNDAY MARCH 9

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

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING:
Clear the next night, then Sunday sun increasingly warped. In the massive Mt Blanc,
Foehn temporary and low in the morning with high peaks already hung.
Temperatures 1500 m: -3 at +4 dg.

Isothermal 0 1500 1800 m.
Isothermal -10 DG: 3700 m and 3300 m.
Wind at 2000 m: low at night and then southwest turbulent reinforcing 30/50 km / h or even 70 km / h heights of Lake Geneva.
Wind at 4000 m: low at night and then temporarily west 20 km / h early morning then southwest 30/50 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Episodes of bad weather have not been very important this winter, the snow cover is low for early March. The slopes between south and west often have very little snow until about 1500 m, and even in 1800/2000 m steep. A high-altitude glaciers are generally in good condition but with already more beautiful crevasses.
Departures on skis or snowshoes are made to toe the lowest around 1200 m in cold areas due north, south already between 1500 and 1800 m.
Quality of snow for Sunday:
On average, nearly crusty snow in the hills between south and west and then becoming a little wet, in the other slopes higher than 2000 m snow cold more or less blown.
Bosses snow and icy ridges.
In the high mountains, cold snow cardboard.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Slabs located.
The snowpack is well stabilized as a whole. Some, however, deserve slopes vigilance because of the passage of one or more persons might break a slab and trigger an avalanche. Typically modest in size, but that should not be overlooked. These areas are most vulnerable rather close to the caps, collars, sometimes in the corridors, in directions north and steep. At high altitudes, most diverse directions may be involved but the risks remain localized.
The risks of a voluntary departure is expected to be very low.

TREND LATER RISK:
Monday, risks stationary.

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

Avalanche Forecast Translation March 5 pistehors.com

AVALANCHE BULLETIN
of HAUTE-SAVOIE
VALID OUTSIDE OF MARKED AND OPEN SKI RUNS
FOR WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2008
(drafted Tuesday, March 4)

RISK ASSESSMENT UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
All ranges Haute-Savoie: CONSIDERABLE RISK (level 3).

WEATHER OUTLOOK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Tuesday evening and into the night, continuing snowfall at low altitude. Wednesday, very cold temperatures and windy, becoming sunny with a few clouds fairly persistent in the sunny slopes of mid elevations.

Isotherm -10 DG: 1800 m.
Wind at 2000 m: North-east 60 to 80 km / h. Wind
4,000 m: North-east 60 to 80 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is very low for early March. At 1500 meters, the deficit of snow is close to 50 cm. We can still put on the skis from 1200 m in some sectors cold, due north, 1600/1800 m on average in southern slope, and in some places higher if the slope is steep.

Quality snow for Wednesday:
In areas sheltered from the wind, snow will be excellent, and very light powder snow, especially in the morning. In areas exposed to wind, snow will be more compact and even harsh in areas "pickled".

STABILITY OF THE SNOWPACK:
Many very fragile slabs, bigger and more "traitors" in northern slopes above 2200 m.

On the night of Monday / Tuesday has filed a layer of snow and very cold light, thick by 10 to 20 cm, in the Chablais range where he fell in the . This Tuesday afternoon and overnight, awaiting 10 to 15 cm of snow lightly.

During the night, with the strengthening wind, many slabs wind very fragile will form near windy areas. Wednesday, a skier and hiker could easily trigger an avalanche of slabs, mainly in the areas of accumulation of snow by the wind. It will be
guard especially in the northern slopes above 2200 meters. Indeed, in these sectors, the slabs may be thicker because of snow fell Friday and yet transformed. In these areas, the danger is all the more pronounced if the slope is usually little skiée, due to the possible presence of poor sub-layer without cohesion.
Attention also in steep areas where little windy even without the presence of a plaque, snow drifts easily to the passage of a skier on the old hard snow by the refreeze.

As for spontaneous avalanches, they will be limited, but a few departures avalanche carrying the recent snow will still likely, especially in the sunny slopes of mid elevations sheltered from the wind.

TENDANCE LATER RISK:
Thursday and Friday, the risk will drop slowly.

Meteo-France updates this newsletter every day to 16h or sooner if conditions warrant nivométéorologiques.

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1992-2008 All text and images copyright: pistehors.com;

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.

N74270211
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2008
(Drafted Wednesday, February 27)

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

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL THURSDAY EVENING:
The next night, and Thursday, the sky will be shrouded by high clouds between 5000/3000 m, but the sun filter more or less Thursday through the cloud layer, in a fresh atmosphere.

Isothermal 0 2200 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest 10/20 km / h.
Wind at 4000 m: West to northwest 40/60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow depths are low for the end of February, especially in the southern slopes and at low altitudes.
Snow resists better in the north. Glaciers are in relatively good condition but their loss in thickness is clearly visible on the ground.
It is fitting the skis from 1100 m in sectors cold due north.
In southern slopes, ... Between 1600 and 1900 m depending on the slope steepness.

Quality of snow Thursday:
Unless 2000/2200 m in all slopes, except for a thin crust subjected surface in the morning, wet snow will be much of the day.

A more 2000/2200 m north side, is a small layer of snow recently powder in the order of 10 cm on the surface of the mantle. In southern side between 2000 and 2700 m, this small layer of snow over recent hours humidifies itself.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
ALWAYS NATURAL HAZARDS OF LOCALIZED HUMIDIFICATION DUE TO THE MOUNTAINS ON AVERAGE SLABS AND SOME OF SURFACE AT ALTITUDE.

Indeed, in some fields not purged steep mountains on average, bottom slabs of wet snow/heavy triggering is still naturally at any time of night/day, especially on grassy soil or rock slabs. This risk will be located below 2000/2200 m in the steep slopes to the north, 2500 m in the steep slopes to the south. These wet snow, bottom slab avalanches, heavy, not very fast, can still generate a large deposit down, especially if they are channeled in a corridor (... filing with large blocks very hard). In addition, small cast surface, mobilizing only small layer of snow deposited over 1800/2000 m, will trigger spontaneously in steep in the sun, including sometimes in high mountain slopes in the mixed (snow / rock ).

Above 2000/2500 m depending on the orientation, the snowpack will remain quite stable although some scattered patches remain superficial, especially in the cold slopes (small hard slabs, or friable powder depending on location).

TREND LATER RISK:
On Friday and Saturday, stationary risk (moderate rainfall with a maximum of snowfall to 1600 m).

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

Forecast for Weds 27 Feb

AVALANCHE BULLETIN
of HAUTE-SAVOIE
VALID OUTSIDE OF MARKED AND OPEN SKI RUNS
FOR WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2008
(written Tuesday, February 26)

RISK ASSESSMENT UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
All ranges Haute-Savoie:
MODERATE RISK (level 2).

WEATHER OUTLOOK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, while rain arroseront small valleys, snow will deposit on the peaks above 1800 meters (10 cm of snow around 2000 m)

Wednesday morning, the clouds, mostly concentrated in mid elevations between 1300 and 2000 m, tear in the morning to glimpse moments of sunshine. Mostly sunny in the morning in high elevations. The afternoon will be rather cloudy and mild.

Isotherm 0 DG: 2200 m and 2000 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest 20/30 km / h.
Wind at 4000 m: southwest to west 10/20 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is low for the end of February, especially in the southern slopes and at low altitudes.
Snow resists better in the north. Glaciers are in relatively good condition but their loss in thickness is clearly visible on the ground.
Can be put on the skis from 1100 m in sectors cold due north.
In southern slopes, .. . Between 1600 and 1900 m depending on the slope steepness.

Quality of snow Wednesday:
Less than 1800 m, wet snow will remain throughout the day. In the sunny slopes Wednesday afternoon, humidification will spread until at least 2500 m. A

over 1800/2000 m in the morning, there is a small layer of fresh snow s'humidifiant afternoon in the hills to the sun.

STABILITY OF THE SNOWPACK:
ALWAYS NATURAL HAZARDS OF LOCALIZED DUE TO HUMIDIFICATION IN mid elevations.

Indeed, on some steep terrain in mid elevations not purged, bottom slabs of wet snow / Heavy is still naturally trigger at any time of night / day, especially on grassy soil or rock slabs. This risk will be located below 2000 m in the steep slopes to the north, 2500 m in the steep slopes to the south. These avalanches deep slab of wet snow / heavy, not very fast, can still generate a large deposit down, especially if they are channeled in a corridor (... filing with large blocks very hard). In addition, small slides surface, mobilizing only small layer of fresh snow will trigger spontaneously in steep in the sun, including sometimes high elevations in downhill mixed (snow / rock).

Above 2000/2500 m depending on the orientation, the snowpack will remain quite stable although some superficial plaques remain scattered here and there, especially in the cold slopes with the approach of Passes and ridges.

TENDANCE LATER RISK:
Thursday, refreeze good in the morning and low risk of avalanche. In the afternoon, and resumed activity of a small avalanche in the steep non served in the sun.

Meteo France updates this newsletter every day to 16h or sooner if conditions warrant nivométéorologiques.

1992-2008 All text and images copyright: pistehors.com;

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.

N74190211
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2008
(Drafted Tuesday, February 19)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie: Low risk (level 1).

OVERVIEW WEATHER UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Skies become increasingly cloudy in the day Wednesday.

Isothermal 0 1800 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest, 20 to 40 km / h.
Wind at 4000 m: South-west then west 20 to 30 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is a little low but largely correct for a mid-February, it is mainly in the southern slopes that the deficit is well marked. It is therefore fitting the skis 1000 m in the cold and shady valleys, circa 1400 to 1700 m in the South.

Quality of snow on Wednesday:
Versants South: The snow will last until about 3000 m. The thaw will concern only the low altitude because of the sunshine disrupted by clouds.
Versants North: After almost two weeks of fine weather, all rides and off-road tracks are very classic. In sectors remained poorly attended, there is a snow crust at low altitude or in the sunny slopes moderately, while in the colder snow is usually a powder dense. The windy places often have a hard snow or ice.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Coat well snowy stable, except for a few departures slabs of substance.

The probability of a slab avalanche, even with the passage of a group of people, remain low. But we can not totally ignore this risk, especially in the steep and routes where snow has remained "cold".

On the other hand, rare spontaneous avalanches are possible (but less likely these days): These potential avalanches, carrying snow to the ground, are usually small and can be activated on some steep slopes of average Mountain oriented more or less in the South, even in the West, particularly in the event of grassy ground or rock slabs.

TREND LATER RISK:
Thursday and Friday, the risk to remain unchanged.

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.

N74130211
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2008
(Drafted Wednesday, February 13)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL THURSDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie: Low risk (level 1) that evolves limited risk (level 2).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL THURSDAY EVENING:
Good weather.

Isothermal 0 DG: 2100 m with cold air in the morning in the valley bottoms.
Isothermal -10 DG: 3700 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Slow.
Wind at 4000 m: Slow.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is a little low for a mid-February but still largely correct: You can put on skis as soon as 1000 m in the north, 1300 to 1600 m in the south. A 1500 m north side, there are on average 60 to 80 cm of snow. In the high mountains, snow is intermittent after strong winds of last week.

Quality of snow Thursday:
South Versants: Snow regelée well in the morning, then softening locally crusty surface until about 2500 m in the exposed slopes.
Versants North: Snow crust below 1800 m, changing at higher altitudes (powdery dense in areas usually little windy, hard cardboard or elsewhere).

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Very rare cold slabs sector, rare spontaneous avalanches in hot sectors.

After a week of sunny and windy few days, the snowpack is well stabilized as a whole.

In northern slopes:
The risk of a slab avalanche by a skier or a group of skiers will be very localised, but probably still present in very few well steep slopes remained cold, so higher than 2000 meters.

In southern slope:
After an early day stable with a good regel, warming due to the sun may cause an average mountain, rare spontaneous avalanches of wet snow, until about 2700 m altitude approximately. These rare avalanches are usually small in size but an avalanche slightly more voluminous remain possible, including below cliffs if the soil is made up of slabs of rock.

TREND LATER RISK:
From Thursday to Sunday, the risk is stationary or slightly decreasing.

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.


N74080211
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OUT OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8
FOR SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING:
All massive Haute-Savoie:
Above that 1800/2000 m: limited risk (level 2).
More low as 1800/2000 m: low risk (level 1) that evolves limited risk (level 2).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING:
Dry weather and sunny. Temperature at 2000 m: 0 to +3 GD.
Isothermal 0 2800 m.
Wind at 2000 m: North-East 15/30 kph, locally 40 km / h on Northeast Chablais.
Wind at 4000 m: North-east 50 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Correct for early February. Irregularities formed by the strong winds.
Thickness total to 1500 m: 10/30 cm in South 80/100 cm in the North.
Quality of snow on Saturday:
South slopes: re-freeze in the morning and then softening the surface until about 2800 m, sometimes crusty.
North Slopes: crusty below 2000 m, powdery earlier in the sheltered areas of Bise, cardboard / blown in the high mountains.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
Becoming stable, but some slabs persist.

Three snowfall occurred over the past week (Saturday, Monday and Wednesday). The wind blew strong (Fœhn then South West and then North).

Versants shady: Wind slabs are formed for a few days, their stabilization is a bit slow in north-east direction at Northwest. It is likely to meet over 2000 m, especially towards the peaks but also in the midst of many slopes in the shade under the rounded or convex areas. Better to keep the distances, in fact some plates could bear the weight of a hiker but yield to the passage of a group.

Versants sunny: in mid-day and afternoon, surface flows occur in the steep slopes until about 2400 m (2700 m even in corridors or steep well as rock bars). Some departures slabs substantive possible in the steep grassy South West in the afternoon on average mountain.

TREND FOR SUNDAY:
Risk stationary or slightly decreasing.

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.

N74040211
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OUT OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 4
FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:

All massive Haute-Savoie: marked risk (level 3).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
Dry weather Tuesday, quite sunny in the morning, clouds return of the afternoon hanging gradually peaks in the Mont Blanc massif.
Isothermal 0 1200 2000 m.
Isothermal -10 DG: 3600 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest 15/30 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h on Aravis/Chablais in the afternoon.
Wind at 4000 m: West 70 km/h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Correct for early February. Conditions are improving.
Thickness 1500 m: 20/50 cm in South 80/100 cm in the North.

Quality of snow Tuesday: you ski on a good layer of snow, cold and light in the morning in mid mountain. Winds from the Southwest blew hard Monday morning at the start of the snowfall. On the peaks, the layer of powder is finer and quickly found the sub-hard layer. In the high mountains, the snow is often more compact, sometimes in cardboard slopes subject to the winds.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:

Some fragile slabs and places piégeuses

Likelihood of spontaneous avalanche departures few surface flows in the sun, occasionally rare purges slightly larger in steep oriented towards South 1800/2400 m, especially in the late morning.

The risk of an avalanche:
-- Brittle slabs were formed in the powdery snow, especially in guidance Northwest, North and East. One skier can cause a fracture engaging in the top of a steep slope and / or convex. Beware of the long slopes and fair traveled little in recent times.
-- Slabs formed tougher this weekend by winds from the South and Southwest persist, sometimes disguised as powder. They are mainly found near the ridge behind the edges or big bosses. Around Mont Blanc, Fœhn blew strong and the slabs are probably thicker (about 60 cm), it is better to keep a safe distance off.

TREND FOR WEDNESDAY:
Risk stationary or slightly decreasing.

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.

N74040211
SNOW AND AVALANCHE BULLETIN FOR HAUTE SAVOIE
(VALID OUT OF OPEN AND MARKED RUNS)
PREPARED ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 4
FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:

All massive Haute-Savoie: marked risk (level 3).

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
Dry weather Tuesday, quite sunny in the morning, clouds return of the afternoon hanging gradually peaks in the Mont Blanc massif.
Isothermal 0 1200 2000 m.
Isothermal -10 DG: 3600 m.
Wind at 2000 m: Southwest 15/30 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h on Aravis/Chablais in the afternoon.
Wind at 4000 m: West 70 km/h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
Correct for early February. Conditions are improving.
Thickness 1500 m: 20/50 cm in South 80/100 cm in the North.

Quality of snow Tuesday: you ski on a good layer of snow, cold and light in the morning in mid mountain. Winds from the Southwest blew hard Monday morning at the start of the snowfall. On the peaks, the layer of powder is finer and quickly found the sub-hard layer. In the high mountains, the snow is often more compact, sometimes in cardboard slopes subject to the winds.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:

Some fragile slabs and places piégeuses

Likelihood of spontaneous avalanche departures few surface flows in the sun, occasionally rare purges slightly larger in steep oriented towards South 1800/2400 m, especially in the late morning.

The risk of an avalanche:
-- Brittle slabs were formed in the powdery snow, especially in guidance Northwest, North and East. One skier can cause a fracture engaging in the top of a steep slope and / or convex. Beware of the long slopes and fair traveled little in recent times.
-- Slabs formed tougher this weekend by winds from the South and Southwest persist, sometimes disguised as powder. They are mainly found near the ridge behind the edges or big bosses. Around Mont Blanc, Fœhn blew strong and the slabs are probably thicker (about 60 cm), it is better to keep a safe distance off.

TREND FOR WEDNESDAY:
Risk stationary or slightly decreasing.

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