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. The authorities have warned of a delicate avalanche situation on various slope aspects at altitude (>2300/2500 meters) where the snowpack is particularly unstable.
The Massif Central region picked up most of the snow from Bella, access to the ski resort of le Mont Dore had to be closed by the authorities due to the risk of avalanche and motorists were stranded on the A75 motorway which bisects the region.
Large powder avalanche at la Sixt Fer a Cheval, 28th December 2020
On Sunday a ski tourer suffered hip and wrist injuries after being partially buried by an avalanche in the Combe Sotty sector in the Bornes mountains in the Northern French Alps. The avalanche occurred on a north sector slope at 1650 meters altitude.
Saturday a group of four ski tourers were caught by an avalanche in the Lauzière around 13h30 near the Grand Pic de la Lauzière. Three of the group were partially buried by the slide, one of the group had to be evacuated by the mountain rescue with a leg injury. In the Aravis three separate ski touring groups were caught by an avalanche in a east couloir of the Pointe du Midi near the col de la Colombière. Apart from some lost ski gear two of the skiers were lightly injured, one was evacuated by helicopter suffering from a minor shoulder injury.