Posted on: 2026-02-12 19:01:34 by editor

Meteo France issues Red avalanche alert for the Savoie

Friday 13 February 2026: The avalanche risk is set to remain Very High (Level 5/5) in several Alpine massifs on Friday, with forecasters warning of very large avalanches that could threaten roads, infrastructure and, in the most exposed areas, buildings.

Massifs at “Very High” risk

• Mont Blanc
• Haute-Tarentaise
• Vanoise
• Grandes Rousses & Oisans

Authorities have placed parts of Savoie under a Red avalanche alert, reflecting an “exceptional” situation driven by heavy snowfall, wind transport and an unusually unstable pre-existing snowpack.

Red alert in Savoie: Haute-Tarentaise and nearby massifs

In Haute-Tarentaise, forecasters describe an exceptional avalanche situation, with avalanches already observed reaching valley floors on Wednesday and Thursday morning, in some cases down to roughly 1,100–1,400 m. With further snowfall and a lowering snowline around 1,200 m, the danger is expected to remain severe.

Key concern for Friday morning: the bulletin warns of very large spontaneous avalanches that could affect villages, resort areas and roads until early morning, before conditions gradually improve later in the day as precipitation and wind ease.

• Spontaneous avalanches: exceptionally large events possible early Friday, potentially reaching their maximum known run-out and producing powder “aerosols” that can extend into inhabited areas.
• Skier-triggered avalanches: “maximum” accident risk across aspects, with numerous reactive slabs in recent wind-affected snow; fracture depths may exceed 1 meter, especially above about 1,800 meters.
• Aggravating factor: a persistent weak layer buried deeper in the snow-pack could still be triggered locally, or fail in a cascade after an initial slab release, producing very large avalanches.

The most exposed sectors highlighted include the Tignes / Val d’Isère area and slopes around Gurraz / Savinaz. Fresh snow totals are reported around 80–100 cm above 2,000 m over 48 hours, with locally higher accumulations where wind loading has occurred.

Grandes Rousses: danger easing, but still highly unstable at altitude

In the Grandes Rousses, the situation remains critical Thursday night at higher elevations, with a transition expected on Friday toward fewer spontaneous avalanches  but a continued high risk of accidents for anyone venturing into steep terrain.

Alert level: the massif is under an Orange avalanche warning, with the risk described as very high above ~2,000 m, easing later.

• Thursday night / early night: with 80 cm to 1.2 m of recent snow in the high mountains (locally more), large avalanches may still sweep couloirs and steep slopes, sometimes reaching valleys or roads in mid-mountain areas.
• Friday: calmer, drier weather should bring the end of the avalanche “surge”, but numerous slabs remain unstable in the high mountains  not only near ridgelines, but sometimes across open slopes due to variable wind loading.
• Below ~1,800–2,000 m: the slab risk becomes more localized, mainly near wind-exposed features; some wet-snow or glide activity remains possible on grassy slopes at lower elevations.

What this means for the public

Forecasters stress that very large avalanches can occur naturally, especially early Friday and that the risk of triggering a slab remains very high in steep terrain at altitude, even if snowfall and wind diminish. Travel on mountain roads and access routes may be affected where avalanche paths threaten infrastructure.

Bottom line: conditions may improve later on Friday in some areas, but the snowpack remains highly unstable  particularly above about 1,800–2,000 m  with the potential for dangerous, large avalanches.

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