A 49 year old skier has been found dead yesterday afternoon near the col de Rombières in the Cantal, part of the French Massif Central mountain range.

There were 22 deaths in the year to 30 september 2017 in France in 13 incidents. This is well below the long term average of approx 30 deaths per year in 21 incidents.

A ski tourer has been killed by a large avalanche under the summit of the Combe Bénite opposite the ski resort of La Plagne yesterday (15/12).

The authorities have issued a series of avalanche warnings for the French Northern Alps and Hautes-Alpes department giving the risk of skier triggered avalanches between High (4/5) and Considerable (3

Three ski tourers have been killed in two separate incidents in the Chartreuse on Saturday.

Due to snowfall during Saturday 2nd December the avalanche risk is markedly increased in certain mountain areas.

The local authorities and mountain rescue in the Hautes Pyrénées department have asked back-country travellers to be careful if they venture into the mountains.

On Tuesday Guillaume Deschanel got some early turns in at Olympic Chamrousse in the French Alps near Grenoble. The conditions don't look too bad, for a 7th November.

A classic autumn Mediterranean low pressure system has brought up to a meter of snow in the Cuneo region of Italy yesterday. Half a meter on the French border areas in the Southern Alps.

Hot and dry, that’s how Meteo France sees the start to this winter in the southern half of Europe. So pretty much the same scenario as the last two years.