For this Friday 9th March 2018, the avalanche danger level is 3 out of 5 (considerable) and level 4 out of 5 (high) above 2,200 meters in Haute-Savoie.
Avalanche risk and security report from Meteo-France
The risk of avalanche triggering skiers will be high this Friday 9th March 2018, especially above 2,000m and especially in Haute-Savoie.
The persistence of rather winter conditions in recent days with successive snowfalls, often cold and windy, have helped to maintain the instability of the snowpack noted last weekend by many avalanche triggering.
There is a change in the weather conditions for the weekend, the weather will be milder this Friday and Saturday is going to rain. The humidification of the snowpack will cause many spontaneous avalanches of wet snow avalanches given the significant snow this winter.
Wet avalanches usually occur when warm air temperatures, sun or rain cause water to percolate through the snowpack and decrease the strength of the snow, or in some cases, change the mechanical properties of the snow.
Be careful ! Prepare your trip consequently, have tranceiver probe and shovel, be trained to use it. Just carrying it in your bagpack is definitely not enough!!!
Without security equipment and without real experience, please stay on the slopes! Even if you have done this run a thousand times!
The avalanche risk report emitted by Météo-France
Mountain Conditions : www.chamoniarde.com/en/mountain-topics/mountain-conditions
Avalanche yesterday in Chamonix: Two persons injured
According to Le Dauphine, Thursday 8th March 2018, in Chamonix, a snowslide hit a person over a distance of about 150 meters long. The avalanche took place off-piste, in the steep Bellin couloir, on the Brévent side, at midday. The victim has a shoulder injury. In trying to rescue him, a tracker was also "hit" by a snowslide and has a minor injury.
Le couloir Bellin runs just under the cable car for 400m then, like l'ensa, it joins the Brevent bowl with a total descent of 1,500m to the valley floor. It is steep with sections of 40 degrees and a twist in the middle which requires complex route finding. There is a high danger of avalanche. Windslab is frequent at the entry to the couloir.
Several avalanches have also occurred: in Torgon, Morillon and Samoens, La Giettaz and Avoriaz.
The prefecture of Haute-Savoie calls for vigilance
For these days, the Prefect of Haute-Savoie warns all mountaineers, skiers and hikers on skis or snowshoes to the utmost vigilance and recommends not to ski off-piste without consulting the mountain professionals and without being equipped, as always, essential equipment (have tranceiver probe and shovel).
