Avalanche Risk

So finally the Alps is looking like getting a decent amount of snow followed by moderate snow for the next 10 days or so. Will be interesting to see how stable the snow pack is as there are plenty of risk factors.

1) High wind at altitude for last 2 weeks so wind slab must be a possibility
2) Tomorrow snow is coming on a strong wind
3) Shallow snow pack and pretty cold conditions on North slopes for last few weeks so potential for depth hoar

Pretty sure that not many will give any of these factors a thought over the next few days. Definitely worth making sure your group is well prepared and looking out for some of the indicators.

I was thinking the same. Not in a rush to go off piste just yet, can wait couple weeks. But it was nice to wake to almost forgotten sound of snow ploughs :) 20 cm on the balcony already!

http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-montagne/bulletin-avalanches/mont-blanc/OPP03

Sheesh! Don't chance it folks. Stay indoors!

Yes, a number of roads have been closed by avalanches at times today.

With very cold temperatures over the next few days, the large volumes of snow that fell today are not going to stabilise... general avalanche risk looks like being Level 4 and very sketchy for a while.

Thought low temp would help keep it together?

Am more worried about wind then temperature, I think is wind chill which is driving it down. This lot has come on 70+km/hr winds and looks like will be 40km/hr tomorrow and a gale the day after.

Snow is really coming very hard again now in Chamonix, 50cm@1400m. Will be interesting to see what actually opens in morning. Poor visibility and strong winds = no helicopters = no gas exploders. Plenty of fixed Gazex dotted about so fingers crossed they feel they can make areas safe to open if winds allow lifts to run.

Still snowing here and not lightly. Opening is delayed, with only 2 lifts running, but more will open later. No wind at all until 2700 m and at altitude winds are reported to be very light. Went up yesterday but didn't last even 2 hours due to lack of any visibility. It was fun though and powder is light and fresh, not cement we were getting last year. North-facing slopes will be dangerous for quite a while, but we have enough South and West-facing slopes, just need sun to come out to let things settle a bit.