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.

N73310311
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR TUESDAY 1 APRIL 2008
(Drafted Monday, March 31)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
VANOISE, HIGH-TARENTAISE, MAURIENNE:
Above 2200/2400 m: LIMIT RISK (level 2). Under 2200/2400 m: LOW RISK (level 1) that evolves LIMIT risk (level 2) in the afternoon
LES BAUGES: LIMIT RISK - Level 2
HIGH-MAURIENNE and BEAUFORTAIN:
Above 2200/2400 m: RISK MARK - Level 3
Below 2200/2400 m: LIMIT RISK - Level 2.

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING:
The sky emerges this night, good weather Tuesday. Isothermal 0 ° C up to 2200m in the afternoon. Wind at 3000 m: calm and then north to north-east 20/30 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The conditions are still winter with Snow Depth very important and superior to the average and end of March on all our mass. In Bauges, Beaufortain, the snow begins around 1000 through the North and there are 200 to 250cm to 350cm at 2000m and 2500m. In Tarentaise, early skiing at 1200m in North heights approaching 150 to 200cm at 2000m. In Maurienne heights are a little lower with 80 to 120cm to 170cm in 2000m and alttude. Snow is good skiing with 10 to 30cm deep powder at 2000m according to the mass. In the high-mountain glaciers remain well plugged with the month of March good snow. However, some north facing portions are steep ice.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SURFACE SLABS IN NORTH VERSANTS

It snowed since Sunday evening, 10 to 20cm in Bauges, Beaufortain and Haute-Maurienne and less than 5cm elsewhere. South winds measured at 50 to 100 km/h accompanied the snowfall. On Monday, he still low and snow fell 5cm on average, 10cm near the border in the Maurienne. The avalanche activity is declining with 10 cast generally observed over 2200m with either Departures Ski exhibitions in North and natural flows rather South.

The recent cuts of snow show a snowpack winter, cold with snow in March, fairly thick (more than 1m) and ongoing slowdown, placed on the sub-layers may be less resilient and fragile locally (flat) or on Hard crusts.

In the Bauges, a few patches of surface were formed near the peak, particularly in the hills north to north-east and can come with the passage of skier. With redoux, some cast in southern slopes are likely in the afternoon.

In Haute-Maurienne and Beaufortain, the slabs recently formed on the surface might be a little thicker (20/30cm). Beware especially exhibitions in North Northwest a little more responsible. Old largest accumulations are present locally in North-East as well. In the afternoon, wet snow avalanches are possible in the South.

On the other mountain, it snowed less the risk of surface slabs are lower. It remains old accumulations (20/30cm) generally in the high mountains (above 2200/2400m) and especially in North-East with a sub-layer may be less fragile buried near peaks. A little natural casting is possible in the afternoon.

TREND LATER RISK:
Up with the north wind that rises.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16h
(Thierry Arnou)