Val d'Isere snow report weather forecast from Henry's Avalanche Talk

Avalanche bulletin and weather forecast Savoie

This avalanche translation of the Meteo France avalanche bulletin is produced mainly through an automated translation tool.  Please use it in conjunction with the French bulletin found at the above link.

N73310111
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2008
(Drafted Thursday, January 31)

ESTIMATE OF RISK FOR FRIDAY:
For all the massive Savoie:
LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
The sky is covered at night. The low snow in the morning but the snowfall intensifying at the end of the day. For Friday, 5 to 10 cm of snow is expected.

Isothermal 0 ° C to 1500 meters.
Wind General to 3000 m: west-southwest 40 and 60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They are very good. The thickness of snow on the ground is close to the average for the period and even a little above average in Haute Maurienne. There is 20 to 100 cm at 1500 m and 70 to 150 cm at 2000 m. The lower limit of snow skiing ranges between 1000 and 1500 m.
The snow surface is often crusty until about 1800 meters, 2500 meters and even on sunny slopes. Elsewhere, it has remained dry but often cardboard or cured by the wind.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:

START OF DEGRADATION OF STABILITY

Small surface slabs formed in recent days remain very locally especially in the high mountains. A degree of caution is called for even though a strong overload often seems necessary to trigger a slab avalanche. The places where there is a danger primarily located above 2200 meters, on the outskirts of peaks and passes particularly in the north-west to north-east. They are more common in the eastern half of Savoie.
But beware! With the onset of precipitation during the day and the strengthening wind new surface instabilities begin to form.
The natural avalanche activity is expected to remain low, most likely limited to a few drips. The risk of avalanches will actually increase into the evening on Friday.

TREND OF RISK FOR SATURDAY:
On the upswing after the snowfall winds of the night.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16 hours.

Avalanche bulletin and weather forecast Savoie

This avalanche translation of the Meteo France avalanche bulletin is produced mainly through an automated translation tool.  Please use it in conjunction with the French bulletin found at the above link.

N73290111
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY 2008
(Drafted Tuesday, January 29)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Of all the mass: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
The night sky is shrouded by high clouds, a little Foehn and Lombarde blowing across the border. Clouds thicker in the morning giving a few flakes, or even a few drops below 1400 m, mostly in Beaufortain Bauges. Then clarified.
Isothermal 0 ° C: 3000 down to 1300 meters.
Wind General to 3000 m: South and Southwest to Northwest at night 10/20 km/h, west to Northwest and Northwest in 10/20 and 20/40 day even 50/60 km/h edge of the Piedmont.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They remain good. The thickness of snow on the ground are usually close to or higher than the average late January, lower locally. There are between 20 and 100 cm at 1500 m, between 70 and 150 cm at 2000 m. The lower limit of snow skiing ranges between 1000 and 1600 m.
The snow surface is more or less crusty subjected by the morning below 1400 m in shaded slopes north and higher in sectors exposed to the effects of solar radiation, until very high altitude in Southern, steep slopes, then it softens and becomes damp during the day. Elsewhere, it remains cold, cardboard or cured by the wind, or more lightweight and consolidated from 5 to 35 cm.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SLABS
The Lombarde and Foehn winds can form some small surface slabs in various exhibitions on the border of Upper Tarentaise and Haute Maurienne to the east Maurienne.
Other small superficial slabs, formed recently by the strong Bise of Northwest Northeast, are present mainly in high mountain, but also lower at the edge of Piedmont and on the tops of the Bauges.
Some older slabs remaining a little every mass, especially in sectors suffering somewhat the effect of solar radiation and above 2200/2500 m even lower in Haute Maurienne and South Haute Tarentaise. The layers of angular grains without cohesion within the remaining snowpack.

Thus, a single skier can stall a surface slab more or less friable, especially in the proximity of high peaks and passes or lower on the border and Bauges. Overloading more or less strong as the passage of one or more skiers can stall a slab more or less thick, especially over 2200/2500 m and the slopes undergoing somewhat the effect of solar radiation exposures especially in Northeast west to north-east.

With cooling, natural activity will be limited to small cast of wet snow especially below 1400 m below the rare heavy showers or in the sun. An avalanche of substance is not excluded sunny sloping grassy or rocky slabs below 2000 m, and an overload can promote its outbreak.

TREND LATER RISK:
Stationary or up slightly from Wednesday evening.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16h.

Awesome weather

I skied all day today with out any gloves it was really lovely although a little unusual for it to be this warm in January. Hopefully it will snow towards the week end.

Avalanche bulletin and weather forecast Savoie

This avalanche translation of the Meteo France avalanche bulletin is produced mainly through an automated translation tool.  Please use it in conjunction with the French bulletin found at the above link.

N73270111
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR MONDAY 28 JANUARY 2008
(Drafted Sunday, January 27)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
Of all the mass: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL MONDAY EVENING:
The night sky is more or less shrouded by high clouds. Then more sunny day with some high clouds purposes.
Isothermal 0 ° C to 3300/3500 meters.
Wind General to 3000 m: North then east, then south night 10/30 then 70 km / h, then Southwest to Northwest day 20/50 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They remain good. The thickness of snow on the ground are usually close to or higher than the average late January, lower locally. There are between 30 and 100 cm at 1500 m, between 70 and 150 cm at 2000 m. The lower limit of snow skiing ranges between 1000 and 1500 m according to the massive exposure.
The snow surface is subjected by crust in the morning below 1400 m in shaded slopes north and higher in sectors exposed to the effects of solar radiation, until very high altitude in South steep slopes, then it softens during the day and becomes damp. Elsewhere, it remains cold, cardboard or cured by the wind, or more lightweight and consolidated from 5 to 30 cm.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SLABS and SOME NATURAL DEPARTURES
La Bise of Northwest North fairly strong on the tops of the Bauges, and very strong in the high mountains even lower in the Haute Maurienne form some small surface slabs more or less friable especially in the proximity of high peaks and passes exposed. The snowplow moderate North is seen locally on the edge of the Piedmont.
Otherwise, the upper layers of the snowpack still hold slabs more or less trained hard during the episode of snowy last Tuesday by the same winds of Northwest North very hard. They are based on a small crust subjected to below 2500 m, except in Haute Maurienne and South Upper Tarentaise. Other older slabs can subsist mainly above 2200 m in sunny areas shortly. More in-depth remain fragile layers of strata without cohesion.

Thus, a single skier can be enough to trigger a surface slab more or less friable, especially in the proximity of high peaks and passes or lower on the edge of the Piedmont. Overloading more or less strong as the passage of one or more skiers can stall a thicker slab, especially over 2200/2500 m and the few sectors suffering the effect of solar radiation including shaded slopes exposed North West Northeast.

Some natural attrition will also occur during the day in sunny steep: a few superficial cast loose snow more or less moist or brittle slabs, a little at all altitudes; few avalanches substantive grassy slopes or rocky slabs especially - Below 2500 3000 m. A surcharge can promote their outbreak.

TREND LATER RISK:
Little change for Tuesday.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16h.

Average Conditions

The mountain seems still to be suffering from the wind durin the week which trashed almost all of the off piste. The only things we have been finding which has been good has been a few slopes in the sun which have almost spring like conditions on them for a few fun turns. We need more snow!

Avalanche bulletin and weather forecast Savoie

This avalanche translation of the Meteo France avalanche bulletin is produced mainly through an automated translation tool.  Please use it in conjunction with the French bulletin found at the above link.

N73260111
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR SUNDAY 27 JANUARY 2008
(Drafted Saturday, January 26)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING:
For all the massive Savoie: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING:
Night will be clear and beautiful sunny day with some high clouds. Always soft.

Insulated 0 ° C on the rise between 3000 and 3300 meters.
Wind General to 3000 m: turning NORTHWEST 50 temporary 70 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They remain good above 1200/1500 meters with heights of 50 to 100 cm up to 2000 meters locally 120 to 150 cm. They are significantly lower below 1200/1500 meters with 0 to 30 cm, which marks the boundary of the snow skiing.
The snow surface is sometimes crusty in the morning, but humidifies itself up to 2200/3000 meters in the best exhibitions while elsewhere it is still dry but often hard cardboard or by the wind.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SLABS and SOME NATURAL DEPARTURES

The sweetness and good sunshine contribute to accelerating the decline and the cohesion of grains of different layers in the snowpack.
Its stability is therefore generally good but some superficial weaknesses persist linked either to the wind (slabs after the storm north to north-west of Tuesday the 22nd) either wetting during the day.

Thus, over 2200 meters, a few slabs located between a risk trigger when overloaded by one or more skiers. We must remain cautious with the approach of peak as steep rather exhibitions north to north-east, particularly on the massive east of the Savoie.

Similarly, normal attrition may again occur during the day in the hills and the sun, in the form of flows but also avalanches, sometimes taking much of the snow in place (bottom slab or melting background). The evolution of skiers in a snow became heavier (below 2200 meters, for example) may promote the risk of departure.

TREND LATER RISK:
Stationary or down slightly.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16h.

Avalanche bulletin and weather forecast Savoie

This avalanche translation of the Meteo France avalanche bulletin is produced mainly through an automated translation tool.  Please use it in conjunction with the French bulletin found at the above link.

N73240111
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR MASSIVE SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
THE FRIDAY 25 JANUARY 2008
(Drafted Thursday, January 24)

ESTIMATE OF RISK FOR FRIDAY:
For all the massive Savoie: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Passages cloudy in the early morning do not prevent low frosts. These high clouds dissipate by noon.

Isothermal 0 ° C to 3200 and 2500 metres.
Wind General to 3000 m: variable low.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They are excellent with thick snow a little above average for the period particularly in Haute Maurienne and Maurienne. It reaches 30 to 80 cm since 1500 m, 60 cm to 120 m in 2000 and 150 cm locally.
The lower limit of skiable snow falls between 1100 and 1500 m.
The snow surface is dry above 1800 to 2000 meters in altitude but it is often hard cardboard or by the wind.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SURFACE SLABS

Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 to 20 cm of snow fell with rain to 1500 meters above. The northeast winds to the northwest then transported recent snow and formed slabs and accumulations in the sheltered areas.
The recent snow covers the oldest layers which are usually quite compact but whose cohesion is not ensured everywhere in the sunny slopes slightly above 2200 meters especially in the eastern part of the Savoy.

The risk for one or more skiers accidentally triggering a slab avalanche persists locally especially in the steep slopes above 2200 m, in the slopes oriented northwest to northeast. Some superficial slabs formed by the bise may, however, meet in other slopes especially near ridges or convexities.

The spontaneous avalanche activity should be small. Some cast or small slab avalanches are possible in particularly steep slopes in the sun.

TREND OF RISK FOR SATURDAY:
Stationary or down slightly.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16 hours.

Warm, then windy, then sunny, then high pressure

Well this past week certainly started out warm,... then windy,... then a bit snowy and windy then very warm again. The end result is a stabilization of the snowpack. It's true that when it gets really warm on a slope the snow becomes more and more unstable the closer it gets to its melting point (like just about any solid I think!). But after, if it gets colder again it becomes more stable than it was before the melting. This is what happens in springtime and well, seems to be happening now. So the snowpack is getting more and more stable in areas that have been subjected to warming - and then to colder temps. But I'm still tempted to go to places that still have colder snow. These are places where there hasn't been much settling and I'm going there because the snow might be better in these areas (e.g. high and north'ish'). In these higher areas I'm remaining vigilant especially on steeper slopes with lots of snow (slopes that were 'wind loaded' in the last storms). There could be the odd unstable layer of snow lurking around up high: close to ridges, passes, on steep slopes and probably on the north'ish' side of the mountain... again in the places we want to be riding.

Tip of the week: Some slopes can avalanche even when there is a very low avalanche rating. In fact, I was taken in an avalanche on a rating of 1. Stupid? Yes.

Ride Hard Ride Safe!

Henry

PS Check out our beeper training programmes in Val d'Isère (and soon to be coming to other resorts). Call Chris for more info: 020 8144 5202 or send an email: chris@henrysavalanchetalk.com

WINDY!

It was very windy today but the Funival still opened at 9 since it’s not affected by the wind. However they closed it straight away because they thought it was too dangerous to have skiers in that strong wind on top of Bellevard. We where then waiting for the winds to die down as forecasted but it kept blowing so it all remained closed.
That wasn’t going to stop my group though so me Bumble and Sandy put our skins on and skinned up to the Folie Douce! Well done guys! It was very windy but protected in some areas in the trees and we enjoyed a great ski down with no people around. It’s rare to have the whole La Daille area to yourself! I took some photos and videos with Bumble’s camera but unfortunately I can’t get them on to my computer.
We had lunch and then headed to the Fornet since they had opened the cable car so we could ski a bit in the trees. It was ok without being spectacular and we then finished off with a super S of Solaise.
Tomorrow there will be some nice pocket of snow to be skied but also some accumulations of snow in slabs so be careful ones it clears up. The base layer should be stable in most places so the main worry is the last snow. We think it snowed around 5 – 10 cm’s but it’s hard to tell since it was so windy, gusts of 120 km/h.
Have fun and be safe,
Andreas

Avalanche bulletin and weather forecast Savoie

This avalanche translation of the Meteo France avalanche bulletin is produced mainly through an automated translation tool.  Please use it in conjunction with the French bulletin found at the above link.

N73220111
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR MASSIVE SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
THE WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2008
(Drafted Tuesday, January 22)

ESTIMATE OF RISK FOR WEDNESDAY:
For Haute Maurienne, Haute Tarentaise, Vanoise
Above 2200 meters: RISK MARK - Level 3
Below 2200 meters: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

For Beaufortain Maurienne Bauges: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
The night sky is shared between clouds and light. The morning of Wednesday is still sometimes cloudy, but the sky is emerging in the afternoon.

Isothermal 0 ° C to 1500 and 2700 meters.
Wind General to 3000 m: North 90 km / h into the night and then 50 km / h during the day.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They are excellent with thick snow a little above average for the period particularly in Haute Maurienne and Mauriene. It reaches 30 to 80 cm since 1500 m, 60 cm to 120 m in 2000 and 150 cm locally. The lower limit of skiable snow falls between 1000 and 1500 m.
The snow surface is dry above 1600 to 1800 meters, but often hard cardboard or by the wind.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME NEW SURFACE SLABS

Snow fell Tuesday, 5 to 20 cm with rain until about 1500 meters above. The northeast winds to the northwest carries the snow and form recent slabs and accumulations in the sheltered areas.

The recent snow cover layers fell last week which were packed with relatively quickly but gently whose cohesion is not guaranteed everywhere. Locally, the snowpack is still only moderately stable, particularly in the sunny slopes slightly above 2200 meters.

The risk for a skier accidentally triggering a slab avalanche of important volume is possible especially in the steep slopes above 2200 meters, especially on the sunny slopes slightly between Northwest and Northeast. Some superficial slabs formed by the bise may, however, meet in other slopes. The low thickness of the slabs makes them susceptible recent overload but reduces the risk of burial.

The avalanche spontaneous activity should be small. Some cast or small slab avalanches are possible on steep slopes, especially in the afternoon with the return of the sun.

TREND OF RISK FOR THURSDAY:
Stationary or down slightly.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16 hours.