A classic "retour d'est" pattern looks like bringing 50 to 100 cm of snow to the Southern Alps over Thursday and Friday. Ski tourers looking for first turns this autumn should be able to get their fix on the high road passes of the area such as the Col d'Agnel. However if you are travelling in the mountains take care, make sure you have chains or snow tires fitted. With so much snow, accompanied by strong easterly winds, the avalanche risk will be significant.
The "Retour d'Est" is a classic autumn weather pattern that can bring monster dumps to the Southern Alps, particuarly along the border between France and Italy. Low pressure in the Mediterranean around Corsica sucks up moisture from the sea and carries it north, then east hitting the frontier ridge where it falls as snow.
https://twitter.com/Meteovilles/status/785720910632263680
