Industry News
Snowfall in France this week has been huge, with some resorts seeing more than 2 meters (6.6 feet) in the last five days. A massive winter storm hammered the French Alps from February 10–13, unleashing monster snowfall that has buried resorts and reshaped the mountain landscape just days before Valentine’s Day weekend.
Across the Northern Alps — including iconic resorts in Haute-Savoie, Savoie, and Isère — weather stations reported extraordinary snow totals. The most snow fell at Grand Montets, part of Mont Blanc Natural Resort, which saw 2.13 meters (6.99) of snowfall in the last five days. Higher elevations above 1,800–2,000 meters were especially hard hit, with meters of new snow stacking up in tight time windows. Windy conditions associated with the powerful system also created deep wind slabs, making untouched slopes look like giant pillows of powder… and giant avalanche hazards.
Some resorts were forced to close on Thursday and Friday to deal with the masses of snow. Several roads were buried and it took 24-36 hours to clear some of the masses of snow from important access roads.
The recent snowfall piled on top of a fragile snowpack that had been building throughout the season. Mountain forecasters described the resulting snow layers as highly unstable and urged guests to exercise extreme restraint and caution. Meteo France placed several areas under red avalanche alert. Skiers, freeriders, and mountaineers were urged to stay well inside marked terrain and avoid tempting untracked lines until stability improves.
Powder lovers may be dreaming… but for now, patience and prudence remain the words of the mountains until the thick fresh layer settles.Â
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