There was further snow overnight with it settling down to 800-1000 meters altitude. The forecast is for warmer temperatures over the next few days with the zero isotherm rising to around 2200 meter. Depending on the quantity of rain there is a risk of wet snow avalanches as the snowpack gets saturated. There has been a considerable quantity (50cm) of fresh snow over the last 4 days so watch out for risk of windslab higher up.

Temperatures have become warmer over the last few days, a daytime high of 18C is expected today in the French Alps (at sea level). Val Thorens will open today with 35cm at resort level and 50cm at the top of the pists. Val d’Isere follows suit tomorrow claiming 30cm in the village and 40cm at the top of the pistes. Only a limited amount of runs will be open and off-piste is not advisable. These two resorts follow Tignes which now has skiing to the resort level at 2100 meters.

The foehn (strong southerly wind) that has blown since Friday finally abated this morning but has left warm temperatures. The mercury hit 22C in parts of the Isere region yesterday, a record for the end of November and 10C above average. The warm spell is expected to continue to Wednesday with dry, fine weather until early December.

The foehn did its damage. There is no snow below 2300 meters on south facing slopes and 2000 meters on north facing slopes which has effectively stopped any ski touring or off-piste skiing for the moment.