Off Piste Snow Report – N French Alps – Week starting 17 February 2025
A sunny, almost spring-like week ahead!
All weather forecasts we’ve consulted are showing settled, dry and sunny weather across the whole of the Alps this coming week. Temperatures will be above average for the time of year – indeed it will be feeling much more like spring than winter!
Spring-snow conditions are already starting to appear on some sunnier slopes at lower altitudes. We will see more of this coming into play as the week progresses. Way before normal for the time of season.
Very sadly, at the end of last week, there were some bad avalanche accidents, particularly on Sat 15th, with fatalities involved. See the Data Avalanche website for more info on these avalanches. The latest ones were related to weak layers in the snowpack and the snowstorm with high winds last Thursday/Friday (13th/14th Feb), which caused snow drifting and accumulations that created instability on some steep slopes in some very specific areas mainly on East’ish facing slopes at altitudes above 2400m.
There was also an incredibly lucky person who survived an avalanche unhurt after being trapped under 1.5 m of snow for over an hour before being rescued, thanks to an air pocket which allowed him to breathe. Normally around 15 minutes is the longest time an avalanche victim can survive under the snow.
Windslab easily triggered on 15/02/2025. Wayne Watson photo
The snowpack is going to stabilize over the next week, although the weak layers will become even less consolidated mainly on shaded slopes especially due to the clear nights. This will cause instability and danger for the next snowstorm, but not before.
Even when snow conditions are stable, anyone heading off-piste needs to think about applying the key safety points outlined in our Framework. These include being aware of avoiding Steep Slopes above Terrain Traps, looking out for Recent Avalanche Activity, applying Distances between each other as you ski, stopping at Safe(r) Places for example : see our Pocket Guide on video below for more details and thoughts about assessing and reducing danger off-piste and ski touring.
Avalanche Bulletin
During the unseasonably mild and sunny week or so ahead, the snowpack will be stabilising largely due to daytime melting and overnight refreezing (solidifying). The avalanche danger levels will go down to a ‘moderate’ 2/5 or even to a ‘low’ 1/5, especially at altitudes below 2000 m. But even when the danger level goes down you need to apply the key points outlined in our Framework and in the Pocket Guide video below (there are a lot of serious, tragic accidents that occur on danger level 2 days).
Weather forecast : Mon 17th to Fri 21st Feb
A dry and sunny week ahead, with temperatures well above average for the time of season.
See the snow report below from Snow-Forecast.com.
Weather/Snow Forecast for Avoriaz wk starting 16/02/2025 c/o Snow-Forecast.com
Safety is Freedom!
To be safe and have more fun when you’re off-piste, check out our 12 minute overview of the HAT Framework method and the Essentials Talk entitled “Safety is Freedom Pocket Guide” on Video. It contains the key points that you need to know and to apply in order to keep things acceptably safe off-piste and ski touring, and to have more fun with or without a professional!
The post Off Piste Snow Report – N French Alps – Week starting 17 February 2025 appeared first on Henry's Avalanche Talk.