Tuesday 5th January.

This image shows where the recent snow has fallen in the French Alps. It is taken from Meteo France figures from 1st Jan through to the predictions for Wednesday's dumpage.

With the avalanche risk between 4 and 3 today in the Savoyard ski resort of Val d'Isere the snow conditions continue to be very unstable.

An avalanche has killed two Lithuanian ski alpinists in the Mont Blanc massive around midday today. The incident occurred above the Grands Montets ski area at 3200 meters altitude.

This is a great picture taken of the Alps by British astronaut Tim Peake on the 27th of December from the International Space Station. I've added a few towns so you can orientate yourself.

The big melt continues. The freezing level is around 3000 meters this week.

Every General knows that it is dangerous to fight a battle on more than one front but for the second winter running that is exactly what Swiss ski resorts are faced with.

Meteo France says that winters like the current one happen "every ten years or so" then goes on to observe "only they are getting much more frequent".

Given the worries about the lack of snow I thought it might be a good idea to give a short video report on the snow conditions in the Belledonne (French Northern Alps) today.

The first snows of winter have finally arrived. Everyone is excited to be getting some turns.