Two off piste skiers (1 snowboarder) have been killed by an avalanche around 13h00 today in the ski resort of St Colomban des Villards. The avalanche occurred on the North-West slopes of the tête de Bellard (2225 meters) at around 2150 meters in a steep (40-45 degree couloir). A slab about a meter deep triggered where the slope broke over a rock cliff band. The slope was cross loaded with fresh snow (accumulations in the couloir). Numerous terrain traps at the runout. The victims were Dutch; they were found by an avalanche rescue dog then a probe search. There was a fatal avalanche in the same sector on the 30th January 2020.
(photo: St Colomban Town Hall)
The avalanche risk was 3/5 and warned of new soft slabs forming under the West to Northerly winds above 2000 meters altitude. These would be sensitive to a single skier especially on steep slopes or close to ridges. The bulletin warned skiers to avoid East to North to West slopes where weak layers were present in the snow-pack.
Further information: http://www.data-avalanche.org/avalanche/1644249311429