Posted on: 2025-04-18 07:11:19 by editor

Exceptional avalanche situation

Friday, April 18, and this coming weekend, extreme caution is advised for all mountain activities off marked and open trails.

The avalanche risk is high (level 4) today across all Alpine departments. The border ranges with Italy—from Mont Blanc to the Mercantour—as well as the Écrins massif, are particularly at risk.

Winter conditions returned to the mountains Wednesday evening, with heavy precipitation falling as snow as low as 500 m. The heaviest accumulations were observed in Savoie (Haute-Maurienne, Haute-Tarentaise, and Vanoise), but all Alpine massifs saw remarkable snowfall for the season.

The main hazard for hikers and skiers is triggering an avalanche in the fresh snow at any elevation. A single skier or walker can easily set off a significant slide. Moreover, one small avalanche in the new snow can release a much larger one—especially on north-facing slopes in Savoie and the Southern Alps, where older weak layers persist in the snowpack. With a return of sunshine on Friday, spontaneous avalanches are also likely before the snowpack gradually stabilizes.

For more information, consult the Avalanche Risk Bulletins on Météo‑France’s website (Mountain page) or the Météo‑France mobile app, and check locally with mountain professionals.

Avalanche Bulletin (Exceptional Situation)

• Snowpack: Between 70 cm and over 200 cm from lower to higher elevations.
• Spontaneous releases: Intense natural activity continues. As skies clear, expect a large “avalanche flood” in the fresh snow as it rapidly thaws. This is especially pronounced on broad south, west, and northwest aspects. Individual slides—sometimes slab or cascading—can reach size 2, 3, or even 4 (very large).
• Very large avalanches reaching valley floors and ski‑area infrastructure persist. Avoid being beneath steep, sun‑exposed slopes.
• Triggered releases: Maximum accidental risk! Numerous slabs in the fresh snow on all aspects. Powdery in appearance and hard to distinguish, they can involve the entire new snow layer. Release depths may exceed 150 cm, with very large avalanches possible.

Snow Conditions

• Snow cover: A major snowfall event down to low elevations. Despite the heavy totals, cover above 2 000 m is only just back to normal.
• Skiable limit: Around 800 m both north and south.
• Snow quality: Fresh snow is already humid up to mid‑mountain. In high alpine areas, it warms quickly under the returning sun, becoming heavy and sticky on skis.

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