Overview
- Weather bulletins place most Alpine and many Pyrenean massifs at a “high” avalanche risk (4/5), with instability described as generalized and spontaneous releases possible.
- Three skiers died Saturday in two off‑piste avalanches in Savoie, with two fatalities at Val‑d’Isère and one at Arêches‑Beaufort, according to local authorities and AFP.
- Météo France and local officials report that the Val‑d’Isère victims had no avalanche beacons, and rescuers relied on phone location and probing to find them under roughly 2.5 meters of snow.
- Storm Goretti’s return brought widespread snowfall, including up to about 1 meter above 2,000 meters in parts of Mont‑Blanc, Tarentaise and Beaufortain, plus low‑altitude snow in the northeast.
- Six northeastern departments are on orange snow‑ice alert, with bans on heavy goods vehicles until Monday, partial closures on the A36, difficult road conditions, and a Coupe de France match in Montbéliard postponed to Sunday.