The snow does its first damage.
The prefecture of Isère warned Tuesday against a "significant risk of avalanches" on the various massifs of the department, level 4 on a scale of 5, before an expected increase in the middle of the week due to intense falls of snow.
Snow and ice also caused from the end of the afternoon the cut-off of the A40 motorway in both directions of traffic at Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (Haute-Savoie).
Heavy goods vehicles are prohibited on this highway and the prefecture advises users against taking this route due to snow and ice.
"In 40 minutes, 20 cm of snow fell again," a witness told BFMTV.
Hundreds of motorists still stranded on the A40 according to several local media.
đź’¬ "In 40 minutes, 20cm of snow fell again"
This motorist is blocked on the A40, near Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, because of heavy snowfall ⤵ pic.twitter.com/2jQCuQx41N
- BFMTV (@BFMTV) January 12, 2021
In Isère, the prefecture invites in a press release those who practice "hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and any other mountain activity" to "be very careful" on the Chartreuse, Vercors, Belledonne and Les Massifs. Grandes-Rousses, where the avalanche risks will be "strong".
"The practice of these activities outside of marked slopes is strongly discouraged", she adds, specifying that "Thursday and Friday, the risk of avalanches will increase further".
Ditto in Ain where the snow has also fallen in quantity.
Snowy episode in progress: interventions in progress to restore traffic on the A40, ValserhĂ´ne sector, at the Bellegarde viaduct, and snow removal operations on the eastern part of the Ain.
Limit your movements and be careful!
pic.twitter.com/MoHqtAwbuh
- Prefect of Ain (@ Prefet01) January 12, 2021
"The snowpack is very unstable"
For its part, the prefecture of Haute-Savoie has warned against a risk of the start of flows "high for all the massifs of the department".
âť„ Very difficult conditions this evening on the # A40 near #Passy in Haute-Savoie.
Heavy and sticky snow continues to cover the main roads.
(via https://t.co/hMDR3gWI6y) pic.twitter.com/lgoYImoXid
- Guillaume SĂ©chet (@Meteovilles) January 12, 2021
"The snowpack is very unstable and many avalanches of friable plates are likely to be triggered," she said in a statement.
The department has been placed on “snow-ice” orange vigilance because of “an intense winter episode” which should last Wednesday according to Météo France.