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.

N73250311
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2008
(Drafted Tuesday, March 25)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
On ALL MASSES RISK - Level 3.

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Alternating between cloudy passages (few flakes), and with light moments of sunshine during the day. New cloud degradation Wednesday evening.

Isothermal 0 ° C on the rise between 1000 and 1500 meters.
Wind at 3000 m: NORTHWEST 50 km / h and then WEST-SOUTHWEST 10 to 30 km/h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They are excellent again as in the heart of winter with a bleached soil from 300/500 meters and a "skiabilité" from 1000 meters. The thickness approaching 80 to 120 cm at 1200/1500 meters and reaching 140 to 200 cm meters near 2000m locally over 270 cm as Beaufortain or above 2500 meters.
The snow surface is still light and cold (humidification possible only above 1000/1500 meters), or as nearly blown ridges with accumulations.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
MANY SLABS AND SOME NATURAL DEPARTURES

5 to 25 cm of snow fell since 1200 meters with the disruption of Monday evening is a cumulative 48 hours of 15 to 45 cm.
Nevertheless, the slowdown continues, with special "effective" below 2000 meters. However, the winds of Northwest currently has fostered the development of slabs and those from west to south-west provided will doubtless form new, generally above 1600/1800 meters in 2000 and Bauges / 2200 meters on the other mountain.

So we will return to superficial instability marked on most of our reliefs with 20 to 50 cm of snow often windy on the sub-strata still backward and sometimes fragile (recognizable particles, snow rolled, etc.). The risk of rupture when overloaded even by a single skier continues to be important, particularly with exposure of South-North and sometimes Northwest. Please note that these triggers caused, in the form of slabs more or less friable, very locally can expand (warp exceeding 70 cm and important vertical). It has been reported every day at least one accidental departure above 2000 to 2500 meters, great caution is therefore required in off-piste.

In addition, we can expect further attrition, particularly with clearing. They are limited to frequent but also cast a few small to medium avalanches although a more important is not completely ruled out.

TREND LATER RISK:
Stationary with the new snowfall expected Wednesday night and Thursday.
Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16h.