The French weather services has issued a yellow alert for avalanches for the weekend of the 7th/8th May 2021. The warning covers the Hautes-Alpes and Northern French Alpes above 2200/2400 meters. The alert is a consequence of fresh snowfall all week, especially on Thursday evening at altitude and accompanied by strong winds. A rapid thaw is expected on Saturday morning. Backcountry travelers risk triggering avalanches on shaded slope aspects and natural avalanche activity is to be expected on all slope aspects during the course of the weekend. These may be very big, particularly in the Haute-Savoie, north of the Savoie and Grandes Rousses.
The PGHM Briançon have warned of a "high risk week-end in the Ecrins" after more than 1 meter of snow has fallen above 3000 meters altitude. They have seen avalanches on all slope angles over the last two days, some close to 150cm deep. "The accidents at the start of the week should remind people to be extremely cautious at the moment".