The severe bad weather in recent days in the South and South-East of the country has brought snow to the mountain ranges.
The accumulations are sometimes significant for the late season, which leads to a significant risk of avalanches for the current days, in the Alps and the Pyrenees.
Locally, conditions may be more favorable than in high season.
This is for example the case of Gréolières, in the Alpes-Maritimes, where snow depths are above average.
❄️ After a winter with very little snow, snow conditions are exceptional in the south of the #Alps this month of March, here in Gréolières-les-Neiges in the #AlpesMaritimes.
(webcam @skaping) pic.twitter.com/r6RtzqmsKp
— Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) March 12, 2024
But these conditions go hand in hand with a risk of avalanches in the resorts.
Caution is therefore advised for off-piste enthusiasts.
The school holidays are certainly over, but the winter sports season continues for more than a month in some places.
According to Météo France, the risk peaks at 3 on a scale of 5 in the Alps, but it rises to 4 in several areas of the Pyrenees.
In the Northern Alps, Mont-Blanc, Haute-Tarentaise, Haute-Maurienne, Belledonne, Oisans and Grandes Rousses are the most exposed sectors.
/Meteo France
At 3 out of 4, the danger is considered “marked” with “instability on many slopes”.
“Assessing the danger requires experience”, according to the terms of the classification in force.
In the Southern Alps, all the massifs are in the same boat.
The risk level is 3 out of 5. Thabor, Pelvoux, Queyras, Dévoluy, Champsaur, Embrunnais, Parpaillon, Ubaye, Haut-Var, Haut-Verdon and Mercantour are affected.
Meteo France
In the Pyrenees, the risk goes up a notch.
It is 4 out of 5, therefore “strong”, for the massifs of Aspe Ossau, Haute-Bigorre and Andorra.
At this level, the authorities speak of “unfavorable conditions”.
“Many slopes” are affected by the instability of the snow cover.
“Appreciating danger requires great experience.
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Aside from Canigou, in the east, which is at risk 2 out of 5, all the others are at level 3, i.e. a “marked” danger.
Basque Country, Aure Louron, Luchonnais, Couserans, Haute-Ariège, Orlu-Saint-Barthélémy and Puymorens are affected.
/Meteo France
Finally,
in Corsica, the risk is also 3 out of 4, whether it is Rotondo or Renoso.
In the Vosges and the Jura and the Massif Central there is no risk identified by Météo France, due to lack of snow.
The layer only reaches around 10 cm in the Massif Central.