The first snows of winter have finally arrived. Everyone is excited to be getting some turns.

There were 45 avalanche victims in France during the 12 months finishing on the 30th September 2015. Over the last 35 years only 4 other winters have seen such a high number of fatalities.

It is a wet bank holiday weekend in the few ski resorts still open.

At least 14 people were killed on Everest after avalanches were triggered by the Nepal earthquake. However a number of climbers are still missing.

Normally, this time of year, after a good refreeze we can expect wet snow slides on sunny slopes but the avalanche bulletins have talked about "natural slides that take the form of wet slabs with

On the 23rd March, 2015 a guided group at la Grave is engulfed by the powder cloud of an avalanche triggered by falling séracs on the East Col of the Pelvoux above the glacier noir.

Glide cracks appear when the snowpack slides slowly downhill at different rates, faster towards the bottom. Often the movement is just a few mm per day.

It has been a windy day in the French Alps. At 10am speeds of 150km/h were recorded at the summit of the Bellevard in Val d'Isere. This meant lift closures.

The Pyrenees had a period of risk 5 condtions at the end of last week and as well as access roads to ski resorts being closed, once again, there was some impressive natural avalanche activity.

The French secretary of state for sports, Thierry Braillard, is in the Hautes-Alpes today to participate in a round table on avalanche safety.