Last weekend was marked by sustained snowfall in the Pyrenean mountains, especially towards the west. The fresh snow was accompanied by strong winds. Locally up to a meter of new snow was recorded. The avalanche risk was at maximum: 5/5 during the snowfall but milder weather on Monday, zero isotherm above 2000 meters, settled the snowpack to a certain extent.
Starting from almost zero there has been a rapid accumulation of snow depth and overall they are equivalent to what is seen at mid January. According to Meteo France the weather station at La Pierre Saint Martin situated at 1,650 meters altitude recorded 137cm of snow on the 6th December, the highest value since they started measures at this location in 1971. Soum Couy (2,445m) has a similar depth, equivalent to the winters of 2008, 2002 and 1996. Cauterets (1,920m) has over 200cm of snow, the highest level since the station was opened in 2011. At the lac d’Ardiden (2,445m) there is 175cm of snow, again the highest value since 1995.
Fresh snow is expected all this week. Another 30cm during Wednesday before a return to calmer weather at the weekend.
The situation is similar in the pre-Alps. 120cm at the Grande Parei (2,240m) in the Beaufortain, 95cm at the Col de Porte (1325m) in the Chartreuse, 120cm at le Gua (1,600m) in the Vercors and 160cm at the Col de l’Aigleton (2,240m) in the Belledonne. The Southern Alps and interior ranges of the Northern Alps have missed out on the bonanza with just 40cm at the Col de l’Agnel in the Queyras and a similar figure at Les Rochilles (2,450m) above Valloire.
The avalanche situation in the Northern Alps is somewhat worrying. As well as fresh wind blown snow the bulletins are warning of our favourite problem: persistent weak layers, at least at altitude with the possibility of a single skier triggering a slide. This layer formed on the first significant but thin snowfall at the start of November which then transformed into gobelets with the anti cyclone during the mid part of the month. If you haven't already read our article on this avalanche problem, do so now!