The first snowflakes have already been sighted in Haute-Savoie, since the early hours of November, 20. The temperatures started to drop and Chamonix Valley suddenly found covered by a white cloth of snow.
Chamonix Valley is white now but there is still not quite enough snow depth for ski lifts to operate. It may take two or three weeks until the slopes will be perfectly groomed and the ski lifts opened.
After the first snowflakes falling, the Chamoniarde announced sunny weather conditions for today and Tuesday as well, yet in a persistent cold atmosphere. However, in the latter part of the Tuesday to Wednesday a cold air mass is expected to come from the Norwegian Sea towards the Alps, which will trigger intermittent and moderate snowfall in the valley. Nevertheless, the weather will temporarily improve on Friday.
In this first phase of winter, the fresh snow cover could reach up to 1m at 2,500 metres altitude and 1.50 metres on the highest peaks from the massive of Haute-Savoie. Also, at 2.000m the snow layer could range from 30cm to 60cm.
Since the mid-November, Haute-Savoie department took important safety measures, by implementing Vigie Snow devices, which have to ensure the snow removal and gritting on the roads. Drivers must know that due to snow removal procedure, all highways remain passables. More than 405 officers have been mobilised in order to ensure traffic safety.
