Extreme to high avalanche risk in the Northern Alps

The Chartreuse on Tuesday

Between 60 and 130cm of fresh snow has fallen over the last five days in the Northern and Hautes-Alps, particularly in the Mont-Blanc, Bauges, Beaufortain and Grandes Rousses ranges. The wind has been from the south-west on Monday swinging around to the North-West. On Tuesday snow fell to quite low altitudes making ski touring in mountain ranges such as the Vercors and Chartreuse possible, something rare this winter.

However on Wednesday temperatures warmed with rain to 2000-2300 meters. This provoked a great deal of natural avalanche activity as the recent snow purged. Friday will see the snow limit between 1500-1800 with up to a meter of snow falling at 2500 meters. Some avalanches could cross roads over the night of Thursday to Friday. The risk should drop slightly over the course of the weekend. Extreme care is required for anyone venturing into the mountains.

French Avalanche Bulletins

Posted by davidof on Thursday, 01 March, 2007 at 06:32 PM

The extreme avalanche risk is maintained in the Savoie region. The zero isotherm is around 2300m today with the rain/snow level around 2000. Expect futher purging of wet snow in avalanche paths.

M. Caplain had these wise words

“The ski will clear during Saturday night. The temptation will be high to ride the orgy of fresh snow which will humidify in very high temperatures on Sunday. The bowls where the snow is freshest will also be the most likely to see sizable avalanches. Pay head to the avalanche bulletins. An avalanche beacon and other devices won’t save your life in these conditions.”

http://geo.hmg.inpg.fr/mto/mto38.shtml

Posted by davidof on Saturday, 03 March, 2007 at 10:50 AM