A return to cold, wintry conditions across the French mountains this weekend has been accompanied by several avalanche incidents in both the Alps and the Pyrenees. Fresh snowfall combined with strong northerly winds has created unstable snowpacks in many areas, leading to a series of accidents involving backcountry skiers on Sunday, March 15 2026.
Around midday on Sunday, an avalanche occurred in the “Trois Évêchés” sector near the Col du Lauteret Hautes-Alpes. Two ski tourers travelling were caught in the slide.
Rescue teams from the CRS Alpes unit based in Briançon were deployed shortly after the avalanche was reported. One of the skiers was killed in the incident, according to Gap public prosecutor Marion Lozac’hmeur. The victim had not yet been formally identified.
The second skier was also buried by the avalanche but was successfully rescued. He sustained serious injuries, including a fractured femur, and was evacuated to the Grenoble University Hospital.
Since the beginning of the winter season, thirty people have died in avalanches in France, including six victims during a particularly deadly weekend on January 10–11.
The avalanche risk was 3 (Considerable) with the main problem identified as numerous wind slabs in recent snow with rare natural avalanches on north-facing lee slopes; some loose snow slides were possible in sunny terrain during the day. The bulletin warned of many reactive wind slabs formed by strong north to northeast winds. These slabs were generally thin but highly reactive and could be found on many aspects, sometimes far from ridgelines. Difficult to detect they appear powdery in areas where the wind was less intense.
Typical warning signs include wind-drifted snow, cracks forming ahead of skis, or denser snow over softer layers detected during pole tests. At higher elevations on north-facing slopes, deeply buried persistent weak layers remain present in the snowpack, raising the possibility of larger step-down avalanches.
Another avalanche occurred Sunday in the Pic du Midi sector in the Pyrenees, where two skiers were caught by a snow slide. The incident took place during wintery conditions with fresh snowfall, low temperatures and strong winds. Rescue teams were alerted and responded to the scene.
The avalanche risk was 3 (Considerable) with the main problem being wind blown snow and unstable slabs in recent snow on many aspects. The recent snowfall was accompanied by strong north-west to north winds that led to widespread slab formation. These slabs could be triggered by a single skier producing avalanches ranging from medium to large.
Above about 2400 metres, a fragile layer formed during clear nights earlier in the week remains buried beneath recent snowfall. This weak layer lies roughly 40–60 cm below the surface and could allow larger avalanches to propagate if triggered.
A third avalanche occurred Sunday around 14:00 near the Col du Rasoir, outside the ski area of Le Grand-Bornand in Haute-Savoie. A ski tourer alerted emergency services after a person was buried by the avalanche. Seven other skiers who were present at the time were also caught by the slide but managed to free the buried victim themselves, likely saving his life. The area is extremely popular with ski tourers.
Due to poor weather conditions and the risk of further avalanches, rescue teams faced difficult access. A Civil Security helicopter transported a mountain rescue firefighter, a member of the High Mountain Gendarmerie unit, and a doctor to the scene, but only two rescuers could be deployed on the ground.
The victim was conscious and appeared uninjured but was unable to ski. Because helicopter winching was impossible in the severe weather, rescuers transported the person by ground in a rescue sled toward Petit-Bornand to meet emergency vehicles for evacuation before nightfall.The avalanche risk was 3 (Considerable) with the main problem being instabilities in fresh surface snow but there was also a risk of natural avalanches on sunny slopes. Temporary soft slabs formed in fresh snow could be triggered by a single skier on most aspects. These avalanches are generally small to medium in size, with fracture depths of around 25–30 cm.
In accumulation zones, wind slabs may be hidden beneath the new snow. Above roughly 2200–2400 meters, a deeper weak layer remains buried under 40–50 cm of snow and could produce larger avalanches if triggered in a cascading failure.
The website Data Avalanche reported a number of minor incidents on Sunday https://www.data-avalanche.org/explore and there were other reports on social media.
Across many mountain ranges in France tomorrow (Monday), the avalanche danger remains at level 3 (considerable), particularly above mid-mountain elevations. Recent snowfall combined with strong winds has created widespread wind slabs that can be triggered easily by skiers and snowboarders travelling off-piste.
Mountain authorities are advising extreme caution for backcountry travel, especially in areas where wind-drifted snow has accumulated or where weak layers remain buried beneath recent snowfall.