Meteo France is warning that the Mercantour in the Southern Alps may get up to 2 meters of fresh snow over the next 48 hours as a classic autumn weather pattern of a a low pressure traverses the Mediterranean. This pattern is referred to as a retour de l’Est, normally the snow front is blocked by the high mountains of the French Italian border but expect fresh snow for border resorts such as Val d’Isere. It remains to be seen how much of this snow will maked into the interior ranges but the Western Pyrenees amd Corsica could also benefit. The bulk of the snow will fall at altitude (>1800 m) accompanied by strong southerly winds. Taken care at altitude on northern aspects where slabs could be in place sitting on fragile base layers.

Snowing at home this morning when I left at 6h30. Nothing settling but there must be half a meter of fresh at around 2000m altitude.

In the Chartreuse we’ve got about 20cm at 1000m increasing to 60cm near the summits. The snowfall was accompanied by high winds at altitude so it is possible to find summits that are not skiable. The snow doesn’t seem to be of a wonderful quality at the moment but could form a good base for the falls predicted for tomorrow so we’re hoping that Friday may kick off the winter season. In any event if you are piste skiing it is looking good this weekend.