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Authorities Warn of Marked Avalanche Risk Across the Alps This Weekend

Recent heavy snowfall has created a deep, unstable snowpack prone to human‑triggered releases.

Overview

  • Météo France rates the avalanche danger at level 3 out of 5 on many interior Alpine massifs and in parts of the western Pyrenees this weekend.
  • Haute‑Savoie sectors including Mont‑Blanc, Chablais and Aravis are at marked risk above roughly 1,800 meters, while the Bauges are assessed as limited but still hazardous.
  • Observed snow slides on Friday in the Aravis, notably near Manigod and La Clusaz, corroborate the current instability of the snowpack.
  • Authorities urge mountain users to consult BERA, stay within opened and secured areas, carry a transceiver, shovel and probe, travel accompanied, and choose conservative routes.
  • Snow depths reach about 1 meter above 1,500 meters in the Alps with significant cover elsewhere, and Météo France notes that even a single person can trigger an avalanche in little‑frequented terrain.