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.

N73010411
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2008
(Written Tuesday, April 1)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
VANOISE, HIGH-TARENTAISE, MAURIENNE:
Above 2200/2400 m: LIMIT RISK (level 2).
Under 2200/2400 m: LOW RISK (level 1)
LES BAUGES: LIMIT RISK - Level 2
HIGH-MAURIENNE BEAUFORTAIN AND:
Above 2200/2400 m: RISK MARK - Level 3
Below 2200/2400 m: LIMIT RISK - Level 2.

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Beautiful in the morning and then covering. Isothermal 0 ° C: 1600. Wind at 3000 m: North / Northwest 60 to 100 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The conditions are wintery with snow heights above the average and end of March. In Bauges, Beaufortain, the snow begins around 1100 through the North and there are 200 to 250cm to 350cm at 2000m and 2500m. In Tarentaise, beginning in 1300 skiing in North heights approaching 150 to 200cm at 2000m. In Maurienne heights are a little lower with 80 to 120cm to 170cm and 2000m altitude. The powdery snow becomes less and more blown aloft with the north wind. In the high-mountain glaciers remain well plugged, faces some northern portions are steep ice.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SURFACE SLABS IN SOUTH VERSANTS

Snow totals are 48 hours from 5 to 10cm in general but 20/30cm in Haute-Maurienne and Beaufortain. There have been several reports avalanches in Haute Maurienne (natural surface flows in the south and a few slabs in North 2000/2200m above).

Recent cuts show a wintery snowpack and cold with snow in March thick enough (more than 1m) in the course of settling. Sub-resistant layers sometimes less fragile and locally are buried. The first 10/20 cm may instability if snow or if the wind picks up.

In the Bauges, small slabs near the peaks and southern corridors.

In Beaufortain, Bise rises tonight, distrust Wednesday morning in the bowls charged by the wind, including Southwest to West. Above 2200/2400m, sometimes thicker slabs (20/30cm).

In Haute-Maurienne, the winds of North should carry the recent snow and light. New thick accumulations sometimes above 2200/2400m (30/40cm) should present a risk to the skier. The slopes at SOUTH SOUTH-EAST must be avoided.

In other massive below 2200/2400 meters, good regel and snow becomes very little. The risk of avalanches is low. Above 2200/2400 meters, the wind carries North snow remained light and it is feared the formation of small surface slabs (10cm), including by SUD. In the high-mountain, a final approach by paying SUD, with a portion exposed in the event of a fall (rock bars for example), can be very delicate locally (small slab causing the fall).

TREND LATER RISK:
Up with the snowfall provided Wednesday evening.

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