The weather is getting worse in the Alps with a “remarkable” snowfall expected. Météo-France has placed Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère on orange snow-ice and avalanche alert this Sunday, while Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes-d’Armor will be at the same level. alert level for winds.
The three Alpine departments entered into orange snow-ice alert this morning, with the end of the episode expected in the evening on Monday, specifies the public establishment in its latest bulletin published at 6 a.m. For the risk of avalanches, orange vigilance will begin at 6 p.m. and should also last until Monday evening.
One meter of snow in two days
In the mountains, nearly a meter of snow is expected in the space of 48 hours above 1,500 meters, and between 40 and 60 centimeters around 1,000 meters. These accumulations are particularly likely to disrupt access to high altitude resorts, specifies the public establishment, and wind gusts ranging from 80 to 100 km/h this Sunday could cause accumulations of snow in places.
The risk of avalanches will be high on the massifs of Chablais, Aravis and Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie), Haute Tarentaise, Beaufortain, Vanoise and Maurienne (Savoie), and Belledonne, Grandes Rousses and Oisans (Isère).
“Large avalanches” will be triggered as snow falls during the night from Sunday to Monday, then Monday during the day, adds Météo-France. They “will be able to reach exposed mountain roads as well as high-altitude infrastructure”. “The expected avalanche activity occurs on average every three to eight years depending on the massifs concerned,” underlines the organization.
“Great vigilance” for motorists
Motorists must exercise “great vigilance” on the roads, be equipped with winter tires and chains for access to certain mountain areas, while limiting travel “as much as possible”, recalls the Haute-Prefecture. Savoie in a press release. Those taking the A7 motorway from the south of France are urged to “become well informed about the weather conditions before traveling in these regions”, warns Vinci Autoroutes.
On Monday, the snowy episode will be accompanied by a “strong wind”, and “the fresh snow will also be deposited on a snow cover not yet stabilized following previous snowfalls, which could encourage the start of large avalanches”, concludes. he.
Concerning the wind, the three departments of the North-West will enter orange vigilance until around 8 p.m. Gusts of up to 130 km/h locally on the coast and around 100 km/h inland are expected, in a context of stormy showers accompanied by sleet.
