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

Snow Report April 18

Last week I said that our experience off-piste has been, “great despite totally unpredictable weather and days that you would think aren’t going to be good.. but then they turn out to be great!” This trend of passing storms then sun, then passing storms then sun…. has continued over the last week and will continue this coming week too – but with warmer temperatures forecasted at least over the weekend. The weather pattern that has brought us ‘winter in spring’ since the first week of March has provided us with some of the most phenomenal skiing I’ve ever experienced here in the French Alps. For me, reporting from the higher Alpine resorts where the skiing is mostly above 2000 metres, the best skiing has been almost exclusively ‘winter snow skiing’ (on snow that has not been through melting & freezing cycles). Last week was again characterized mainly by winter conditions - although when the sun comes out, you feel it’s spring (well it is mid-April after all!). As a result of the strong solar radiation that is often been present even when cloudy, we have been going ‘high and north’ to take advantage of the cooler, shaded areas where the snow gets the least amount of incoming solar radiation/heat. See photos of touring and skiing this past week on www.henrysavalanchetalk.com > Free Stuff > Photo Albums > Skiing with HAT (www.hat.skioffpiste.co.uk/photos/hatskiing/index.html ). The trick still seems to be getting out early (despite wind, bad visibility etc.), going as high as possible (above 2500 metres) and looking for slopes that are sheltered from the wind [winds seem to have been coming out of the Southwest to East in much of the Northern French Alps and this is supposed to continue well into the week of April 21]. Below 2500 metres there has been quite q bit of melting and freezing (spring snow) which is pretty nice if it is smooth but awful where there are old frozen tracks, frozen avalanche debris or if the melt-freeze crust is not thick enough to hold your weight (breakable curst is not nice)!

Snowpack Quality & Stability

It looks like the successive storms and clearing will continue with a significant increases in temperatures, especially from 18-20 April, which means we have to watch out for big wet snow avalanches on slopes that are going to get the sun, are at lower altitudes and therefore are going to subject to rapid warming (I’ve already heard of a number of avalanches coming down onto pistes that were closed due to avalanche danger). For Sunday to Wednesday, the rain snow limit is forecast to stay around 2000 metres which is not all that high for this time of year, and that means more great skiing!

Otherwise, the light/moderate snowfalls and wind have continued to form surface slabs, mostly above 2500/2700 m. The wind, the sun, warming and precipitation will encourage some instability and avalanche activity on sufficiently steep slopes, a little at all altitudes. Below 2500/2700 a relatively small surface slab may turn into a larger wet snow avalanches; above that, they could lead to bigger slab avalanches too in the form of dry/cold snow slabs. The risk of these types of slabs is most prevalent on Northeast to Northwest facing slopes (the ones that we are skiing on most). So I will be especially careful if we get 20 cm or more in one storm - or in a short amount of time like 48 hours, especially if there is a good amount of wind, which can lead to twice the amount of snow that came out of the sky on these sheltered slopes (again these are the slopes that will have the best skiing). I’ll be limiting the risk mainly be avoiding steep slopes that have cliffs and/or narrow valley bottoms below them. A person was killed on the 15th due to a relatively small avalanche that took him over some cliffs: see www.pistehors.com

Tip of the week:
I’ve been long-winded enough this week; so I’ll leave it to you to…. ‘Ride Hard ! Ride Safe’

Henry & Andreas (HAT & Alpine Experience)

SPECIAL THIS WEEK:
Andreas’s special skiing summary from the Espace Killy (Val d’Isère & Tignes): “We keep getting some fresh snow to work with every other day and just the right amount to cover old tracks and give a new nice base but not so much so that it gets dramatically unstable so that we can’t move around safely. So this has meant great skiing lately with of course respect for new snow and also a lot of attention to timings and following temperatures etc! Our worst days now are when we get days with a few clouds and bad visibility but not any new snow, which means that we can neither ski powder comfortably, nor do we get a good spring snow transformation. So, we are touring a bit at the moment and we had a great mini tour with a night in the Col des Fourshut last weekend, 13-14 April, and despite Henry’s snoring which kept us all awake, we had a great time!!! So let’s hope the conditions stays good until the end and personally with the great base we have now, we should have lots more good skiing until the end of the season.”

PS We’re STILL doing lots of transceiver training at the moment in Val d’Isère: 35 euros for saisonaires for a full afternoon of coaching, timed searches, basic rescue procedures & a waterproof reference card (wow!). Call Jamie on 06 23 05 75 09

Snow Report April 11

The skiing off-piste has been great lately despite totally unpredictable weather and days that you would think aren’t going to be good.. but then turn out to be great! Getting out early (despite wind, bad visibility etc.), going as high as possible and looking for slopes that are sheltered from the wind seems to be the trick [winds have been coming out of the Southwest to South most of the time up until the 11th – that will change on Saturday 12th as the winds turn to the North and Northwest for most of the time until Wednesday 16 April]. The little snowfalls of 5-10 cm that have been falling with each passing storm has helped to provide fresh tracks and lots of fun on a lot of days recently. Adding to the these little snowfalls is the wind, which has helped to make accumulations in sheltered areas build up to quite a bit more than what fell out of the sky - but not so much as to make it very unstable (so far anyway). It looks like this weather trend will continue for at least a week. So get out there and find the good snow!

Snowpack Quality & Stability

The light snowfalls and wind have been forming some surface slabs, mostly above 2500/2700 m. The wind, the sun, warming and precipitation will encourage some instability and avalanche activity on sufficiently steep slopes, a little at all altitudes. Below 2500/2700 a relatively small surface slab may turn into a larger wet snow avalanches; above, they could lead to bigger slab avalanche too as dry/cold snow slabs. The risk of these types of slabs will increase with each snowfall and I will be especially careful if we get 20 cm or more in one storm (or in a short amount of time like 48 hours) with wind, which can lead to twice the amount of snow that came out of the sky on sheltered slopes - the slopes that will have the best skiing..

Each day the Météo France avalanche forecast says that one skier is enough to trigger one of these surface slabs and that could even lead to a second slab releasing deeper into the snowpack below the first one. This scenario is what happened to my friend and colleague TJ last year – the conditions were not much different than now. TJ was lucky to get away with only severe knee injuries and is just getting back on skis now after several knee operations. So, even though things seem safe/stable in most places, there are areas of real instability out there. if you keep that in mind, you’re doing well.

Tip of the week:
I’m sticking to the higher and north’ish’ slopes for the best snow until we get some hot sunny days with good cold nights that will transform the snow on other slopes to nice smooth spring snow. I keep saying that I’ll do our annual spring snow write-up soon, but I’m going to have to put that off again until next week.. or until we actually start getting some good spring out there, but it looks like cold temperatures and more ‘mini snow storms’ through Wednesday 16 April. So I’m happy to stick with winter for now!

‘Ride Hard Ride Safe’!

Henry

PS We’re still doing lots of transceiver training at the moment in Val d’Isère: 35 euros for saisonaires for a full afternoon of coaching, timed searches, basic rescue procedures & a waterproof reference card (wow!). Call Jamie on 06 23 05 75 09

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.

N73080411
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2008
(Written Tuesday, April 8)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
On all except the Bauges massive lack of information:
-- Above 2200/2400 m: RISK MARK - Level 3
-- Below 2200/2400 m: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING:
Clearing night and morning. Precipitation from the middle of the day. Limit rain-2500 m. We expect less than 10-2700 m. Foehn and Lombarde near the border.
Isothermal 0 2200 2700 m.
Wind General 3000 meters: Southwest to South 20/40 and 40/60 km / h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They are good, with layers of snow on the ground often higher than the averages in early April, locally near or below. There is at 1500 m: 0 to 60 cm to 100 cm locally Beaufortain, 2000 m: 50 to 180 cm by 280 cm locally Beaufortain. The lower limit of skiable snow falls between 1000 and 1900 m.
On the surface, in the morning, a little snow recently, sometimes windy, snow covers a crust by regel below 1800 m in northern steep slopes undergoing somewhat the effect of solar radiation, and higher elsewhere, until very high altitude in South steep slopes sunny, then it becomes damp during the day. In other sectors suffering somewhat the effect of solar radiation, the recent snow is thicker, more or less packed when it is not cardboard or cured by the wind. On Wednesday morning, it will be wet by rain and regelée below 2000 m, covered with a bit of snow earlier.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
A LITTLE NATURAL ACTIVITY and some SUPERFICIAL SLABS
Snowfall and wind expected will form some new superficial slabs, especially over 2500/2700 m and in various sectors especially near the border. Other superficial slabs, formed recently by winds north and then west to south-west with Foehn / Lombarde remain above 2200/2400 m. Their adherence to the crust or snow more or less recent (or angular) is not assured. Some artificial and accidental releases to be reported this morning, friable plaque or hard sometimes thick above 2200 m above all on display Northeast.
With the wind, sun, then redoux rainfall, few natural attrition will occur sufficiently steep slopes, a few in all exhibitions. The cast of wet snow surface more or less onerous occur mostly below 2500/2700 m. The Avalanche substantive wet snow can also occur in steep grassy, especially below 2000/2200 m and exhibitions South East to South-West, particularly in the Bauges. Above 2500/2700 m, the surface prevail cast of snow or more dry patches more or less friable. A fortiori, such overloading the passage of one or more skiers can promote the initiation of these flows or avalanches.
In particular, a single skier can stall a surface slab lasts more or less then that can cause the breakdown of another slab more or less buried. Overloading more or less strong as the passage of several skiers can stall a slab sometimes quite thick. This risk remains stronger accidental above 2200/2400 m in the morning and then a little higher in the afternoon, and the slopes undergoing somewhat the effect of solar radiation exposure including Northwest North East even East to southeast.

TREND LATER RISK:
Stationary or rising slightly Thursday.

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.

N73060411
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR MASSIVE SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
ON MONDAY 7 APRIL 2008
(Drafted Sunday, April 6)

ESTIMATE OF RISK FOR MONDAY:
For all the massive Savoie
Above 2400 m: RISK MARK - Level 3
More than 2400 m below: LIMIT RISK - Level 2

WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Precipitation low, moderate temporarily, in the night of Sunday to Monday accompanied by violent gusts of wind. Improving Monday with cloudy. It expects 10 to 25 cm of snow with a maximum rain / snow below 1000 meters.

Isothermal 0 300 2300 m.
Wind at 3000 meters west 30 to 80 km / h and then southwest 40 km / h Monday afternoon.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
The snow is often reduced below 1300 to 1500 meters, it is normal for the season above 1800 meters. The thickness of snow reached 80 to 180 cm at 2000 m and even locally over 2 meters.
The maximum snow skiing is about 1200 m in northern and 1600 m in the south.
Monday, a small layer of snow will cover the snow often spring up to 2200 m in northern and 2700 m in the south. Further up, the snow is lighter but sometimes cardboard or cured by the wind.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME VERSANT SHADING SLABS IN HIGH ALTITUDE

The snowpack stabilizes generally fast enough between the disturbances, snow and recent cup is rapidly becoming more dense. But at high altitudes, especially in areas somewhat sunny, the cohesion is slower and the snowpack remains fragile.

It essentially is where the risk of inadvertent. It must therefore remain particularly suspicious over 2400 metres in a wide area north (between north-east and north-west), especially near the peak or changes slope. Especially as the south-westerly wind will form new surface slabs in these areas. Elsewhere the risk is reduced but some very dangerous areas persist locally particularly in the slopes is to the south-east and in some corridors very steep mountain in various slopes.

In addition, the layer of snow may cause a few drips or small avalanches particularly during the light during the day.

TREND OF RISK FOR TUESDAY:
Stationary or rising slightly with a weak disturbance flow southwest.

Weather updates France this newsletter everyday at 16h.

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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.

N73030411
BULLETIN FOR ESTIMATING THE RISK OF AVALANCHES
FOR SAVOIE
Valid off marked and open trails
FOR FRIDAY 4 APRIL 2008
(Drafted Thursday, April 3)

ESTIMATE OF RISK UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
On ALL MASS: LIMIT RISK - Level 2.

WEATHER OVERVIEW UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING:
Increasingly prevalent breaks despite some cumulus clouds on the hills. North wind weakening.

Insulated 0 ° C between 1500 and 1700 meters.
Wind at 3000 m: NORTH NORTHEAST to decreasing 30 km/h.

SNOW CONDITIONS:
They are still comfortable for an early April with heights of 30 to 150 cm from 1200 to 1600 meters and 150 to more than 200 cm to 2,000 meters and beyond.
The maximum snow skiing is located at about 1200 meters North and South 1400/1600 m.
On the surface, there are now about everything, spring conditions with crusts then subjected humidification especially below 2000/2500 meters, a little snow crusts overcoming oldest or a fund drive earlier or even snow or cardboard more or less hardened by the wind.

STABILITY OF SNOW COVER:
SOME SUPERFICIAL SLABS AND A LITTLE NATURAL ACTIVITY

There is this morning, around 1600/1800 meters, 1 to 10 cm of snow, locally 10 to 20 cm on Beaufortain and Northern Haute Tarentaise (or at high altitude).
If the snowpack is rather in a phase of stabilization (compaction and density layers), the first centimeters (5 to 30 cm), sometimes a few instabilities related to transport by wind. First there were the winds from the South with Foehn / Lombard Sunday and then to North West from Wednesday. Some slabs were therefore trained and n'adhérent not quite on a few sub-layers of snow slightly evolved (or snow particles recognizable rolled). The risk therefore remains localized accidental present with the possibility of rupture of a slab a little thick, brittle, when overloaded even by a single skier.
It must remain prudent in exhibitions in North-South is especially above 2200 meters in 2400 and particularly in Haute Maurienne and South-Vanoise. Distrust also in the event of adverse topographical configurations (corridors, steep slope failure, caps, etc. ..).

Furthermore, after a good night regel, humidification, which includes day may cause some wet snow slides in the sunniest slopes, as well as local small avalanches plate (Haute Maurienne) or snow recent (and Beaufortain Haute Tarentaise ).

TREND LATER RISK:
Stationary until Saturday with little change weather patterns.

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.

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)