A snowy episode ” outstanding “ gradually arrives in the Northern Alps, pushing Météo-France to place Ain, Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère on orange snow-ice alert on Sunday and Monday, but also avalanches for three of these departments, while the winds blow strongly in the northwest of the country.
The snow event began in the morning and we have already recorded 5 cm in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and 6 cm in Chamonix, specifies the public establishment in its latest bulletin published at 10:00 a.m.
In the mountains, in the departments on orange alert, nearly a meter of snow is expected until Monday evening above 1,500/1,800 meters, and between 40 and 60 centimeters around 1,000 meters.
These accumulations are likely to disrupt access to high altitude stations, specifies Météo-France, and wind gusts ranging from 80 to 100 km/h on Sunday could cause snow accumulations in places.
Motorists must demonstrate “great vigilance” on the roads, be equipped with winter tires and chains for access to certain mountain areas, while limiting the « maximum » travel, recalled the Haute-Savoie prefecture in a press release.
A truck driver equips the wheels of his truck with chains on November 21, 2024 in Beaumont-les-Autels, in central France / JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP/Archives
Those taking the A7 motorway from the south of France are called to “become well informed about the weather conditions before traveling to these regions”alerts Vinci Autoroutes.
“Large avalanches”
The risk of avalanches in the Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère massifs will begin at 6:00 p.m. and should also last until Monday evening.
Of “great 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.
On Monday, the snowy episode will be accompanied by a “strong wind”et “the fresh snow will also be deposited on a snow cover that has not yet stabilized following previous snowfalls, which could encourage the start of large avalanches”he adds.
Snowfall is also expected in the Ariège Pyrenees from late Sunday afternoon, and “a worsening of yellow snow-ice vigilance cannot be ruled out in the Ariège department”specifies Météo-France.
Concerning the winds, Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes-d’Armor have been on orange alert since 10:00 a.m. until around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
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.
And “strong gust of wind” is expected at the end of the afternoon and evening on Sunday in Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales, and an evolution of vigilance is not “not excluded” in these departments, warns Météo-France.