Two skiers have been caught by an avalanche in the Hohneck couloirs in the Vosges at around 13h today.

With the first sunny day after a period of unsettled weather that had brought close to a meter of snow in some areas of the French Northern Alps the authorities feared the worst.

The body of an Italian ski instructor, resident of Brides les Bains and missing since Wednesday has been found at 2200 meters altitude in the Vizelle sector of Courchevel under a meter of snow.

Some lifts are open for ski club and training use.  The Haute-Savoie will join the Hautes-Alpes with an 18-6h curfew. Other areas have a 20h-6h curfew. A form is needed to move around after 6pm.

If you’ve been paying attention to the avalanche bulletins, particularly those published in the Southern Alps, you’ll notice a new phrase: Situations avalancheuses typiques, what we in the English spe

Although the storm has brought less snow than forecast (10-30cm depending on mountain range) the storm force southerly winds have created new snow slabs on north facing slopes.

A ski tourer has been killed by an avalanche in the Hautes-Alpes near to the col du Lauteret.

There have been a considerable number of avalanches over the weekend but also a lot of activity in the mountains following the French lock-down.

A number of mayors have taken the decision to impose a temporary ban on ski touring in their communities.

Avalanche forecaster Frederic Cabot has been checking out the situation at altitude in the Beaufortain mountain range and the picture is somewhat troubling.