A 33-year-old skier from Lyon was killed in an avalanche on Saturday afternoon in the French Alps, in the commune of Cervières, local authorities confirmed.
The accident occurred on the east face of Arpelin (2,614 metres) in the Hautes-Alpes department. According to the public prosecutor’s office in Gap, the victim was skiing with another man when the avalanche was triggered. The companion escaped injury after being forced against a tree by the moving snow, which prevented him from being carried away.
Emergency services were alerted at around 2:15 p.m. Mountain rescue units from the CRS based in Briançon were dispatched to the scene. The skier was recovered and transported to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Avalanche conditions: Considerable risk at all elevations
The incident occurred amid unstable snow conditions. On Saturday, 31 January 2026, the avalanche risk level was rated 3 (considerable) at all altitudes and on all slope aspects.
According to the avalanche bulletin, the situation was described combining recent snowfall with a persistent weak layer. The snowpack remained highly unstable on many slopes above 2,000–2,200 metres, with numerous wind-formed slabs in place following heavy, gusty snowfall earlier in the week. These slabs were reported to be very easy to trigger and capable of producing medium to large avalanches (sizes 2 to 3). Forecasters warned that a very large avalanche (size 4) could not be ruled out if deeper persistent weak layers were disturbed, particularly on shaded slopes facing west, north, or east.
Below 2,000 metres the recent snow is gaining cohesion, especially on south-facing slopes due to clearer weather. Natural avalanche releases were considered unlikely, but authorities stressed that existing ski tracks were not a reliable indicator of snow stability.
Rescue services and mountain safety officials continue to urge caution, particularly for off-piste skiing at high altitude under the current conditions.