AvalancheClarity

Beaufortain

Danger level 2 Moderate
Bulletin date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 04:00 PM
Valid until:

Ski resorts in this massif: Les Saisies, Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, Arêches-Beaufort, Hauteluce (Les Émerins / Val Joly)

This is an AI-generated translation and summary. It may contain errors. Always read the full official Météo-France avalanche bulletin before any mountain activity.

Source: Météo-France

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Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

(valid outside of marked and open slopes)

MASSIF: Beaufortain

written on Saturday, 25 April 2026 at 4 p.m.

Pour consulter la vigilance en cours, veuillez vous rendre sur le site https://vigilance.meteofrance.fr/fr

Risk assessment for Sunday, 26 April 2026

DEEP WETTING CONTINUES.


            Risque détaillé
NESW

Risk indices: 5 very high - 4 high - 3 considerable - 2 moderate - 1 low -- In black: the most dangerous slopes

Low risk index evolving to moderate.

Naturally triggered avalanche: rare releases in wet snow.

Skier-triggered release: unlikely except for wet sluffs under skis.

Stability of the snow cover until Sunday, 26 April evening

Typical avalanche situation:Neige humideWet snow

Naturally triggered avalanche: rare wet snow avalanches on sunny slopes. They occur after several hours of sun action, mostly point-source releases (pear-shaped sluffs), small avalanches. South-facing slopes are more stabilized in this already well-advanced season with dense snow of firn type throughout the thickness of the snow cover. On East, North, and West aspects, the wetting is gaining depth. A rare linear release is possible if the wetting reaches a buried layer prone to triggering, exceptionally a large avalanche is possible.

Skier-triggered release: unlikely except for wet snow (rotten) avalanches under skis when cutting across an overly moistened slope.

Snow quality

    Snow conditions: barely adequate for the season, the heat is persistently excessive and the snow is melting visibly.

Skiable limit: around 1500 m in the north, 1900 m in the south on gentle slopes, much higher on steep south slopes.

Snow quality: spring snow after a good night refreezing. Hard snow in the first hours of the day then corn snow from morning to mid-day depending on orientations and altitudes. At altitude, it softens slowly, in particular on North aspects. Snow becoming rotten as the hours pass.
  

Weather overview for Sunday, 26 April

nightmorningafternoonevening
Sunny morning, then some clouds during the day.
Rain-Snow----
Iso 0°C3000 m3200 m3200 m3200 m
Wind 2000 m 5 km/h 5 km/h 5 km/h 10 km/h
Wind 3000 m 10 km/h 10 km/h 10 km/h 15 km/h

Off-piste snow depth

Sat. 25 April N S 175 cm 2500 m 95 cm 2000 m 10 cm 1500 m 120 cm 2500 m 20 cm 2000 m 0 cm 1500 m Continuous snow cover altitudes: North face : 1400 m South face : 1900 m

Precipitation at 1800 m

Cumulated quantities in 24 hours Fresh snow at 1800m Fresh snow Min Fresh snow Max Rain 5 10 Snow (cm) / Rain (mm) 0 0 0 Wed. 22 at 6h 0 0 0 Thu. 23 at 6h 0 0 0 Fri. 24 at 6h 0 0 0 Sat. 25 at 6h 0 0 0 Sun. 26 at 6h 0 0 0 Mon. 27 at 6h

Outlook for Monday, 27 April

Risk index moderate

Conditions still very spring-like: risk increasing with the daytime warming.

Snow-weather conditions for the last 7 days

Last 7 days

Sun. 19/04Mon. 20/04Tue. 21/04Wed. 22/04Thu. 23/04Fri. 24/04Sat. 25/04
03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h
Weather
Wind
(km/h)
at 3000m
2020202030252525251515202525151010201510515201010202510
Wind
(km/h)
at 2000m
101515101015101010101010101510151510105510155515205
Iso 0°CRain-snow limit
Altitude (m)
3200
2400
1600
800
0
Sun. 19/04Mon. 20/04Tue. 21/04Wed. 22/04Thu. 23/04Fri. 24/04Sat. 25/04
Fresh
snow (6h)
0 cm
Avalanche
Risk
Snow cover North and South at  1500m···   2000m- - -   2500m
Total snow
depth (cm)
240
160
80
0
3030252020151013012011511010510095190180180180180175175
Sun. 19/04Mon. 20/04Tue. 21/04Wed. 22/04Thu. 23/04Fri. 24/04Sat. 25/04
Snow limit - North face   Snow limit - South face
Snow
limit (m)
2400
2100
1800
1500
1200
900
600
300
0
1400140014001400140014001400 1800180019001900190019001900
Sun. 19/04Mon. 20/04Tue. 21/04Wed. 22/04Thu. 23/04Fri. 24/04Sat. 25/04
Iso 0°C RSL Weather
at
1800m
Wind at
2000m
Wind at
3000m
Sun. 19/0403h3 100-
10
20
09h2 8002 500
15
20
15h2 800-
15
20
21h2 800-
10
20
Mon. 20/0403h2 700-
10
30
09h2 600-
15
25
15h2 700-
10
25
21h2 600-
10
25
Tue. 21/0403h2 600-
10
25
09h2 600-
10
15
15h2 700-
10
15
21h2 700-
10
20
Wed. 22/0403h2 500-
10
25
09h2 700-
15
25
15h2 600-
10
15
21h2 500-
15
10
Thu. 23/0403h2 500-
15
10
09h2 700-
10
20
15h2 900-
10
15
21h3 100-
5
10
Fri. 24/0403h3 100-
5
5
09h3 100-
10
15
15h3 200-
15
20
21h3 300-
5
10
Sat. 25/0403h3 100-
5
10
09h3 000-
15
20
15h3 000-
20
25
21h3 100-
5
10
Avalanche
risk
Snow limit Snow depth at
2000m
Fresh snow at
1800m
Sun. 19/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 800 m
N : 130 cm
S : 55 cm
0 cm
Mon. 20/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 800 m
N : 120 cm
S : 45 cm
0 cm
Tue. 21/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 115 cm
S : 40 cm
0 cm
Wed. 22/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 110 cm
S : 40 cm
0 cm
Thu. 23/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 105 cm
S : 35 cm
0 cm
Fri. 24/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 100 cm
S : 30 cm
0 cm
Sat. 25/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 95 cm
S : 20 cm

La documentation utile à la bonne lecture de ce BRA est disponible sur le guide avalanche 2025

Rédigé par Météo-France avec la contribution des observateurs du réseau nivo-météorologique. Partenariat : ANMSM (Maires de Stations de Montagne), DSF (Domaines Skiables de France), ADSP (Directeurs de Pistes et de la Sécurité des Stations de Sports d'Hiver) et autres acteurs de la montagne.

French Translation & Notes
L'HUMIDIFICATION EN PROFONDEUR CONTINUE.
Deep wetting continues.
*Humidification* refers to the process of liquid water percolating through the snowpack. *En profondeur* means at depth or deep within the layers. This is a classic springtime concern.
Départs spontanés : rares avalanches de neige humide dans les pentes ensoleillées.
Natural releases: rare wet snow avalanches on sunny slopes.
*Départs spontanés* are natural avalanches (not triggered by a person). *Pentes ensoleillées* refers to sun-exposed aspects (South, Southeast, Southwest).
Elles se produisent après plusieurs heures d'action du soleil, départs majoritairement ponctuels (coulées en "poires"), petites avalanches.
They occur after several hours of sun exposure, mostly point releases ("pear-shaped" flows), small avalanches.
*Ponctuels* means starting from a single point (loose snow avalanche), as opposed to a slab. *En poires* (pear-shaped) is a common French term for the widening path of a point-release avalanche.
Les pentes sud sont davantage stabilisées en cette saison déjà bien avancée avec une neige dense de type névé sur toute l'épaisseur du manteau.
South-facing slopes are more stabilized at this late stage of the season with dense firn-like snow throughout the entire thickness of the snowpack.
*Névé* refers to old, dense, multi-year snow or very consolidated spring snow. On South slopes, frequent melt-freeze cycles have created a more homogenous, stable structure.
En versants Est, Nord et Ouest, l'humidification gagne en profondeur.
On East, North, and West aspects, the wetting is penetrating deeper.
*Gagne en profondeur* literally means "gains in depth," indicating that the meltwater is reaching deeper layers that haven't yet been stabilized by previous melt-freeze cycles.
Un rare départ linéaire est possible si l’humidification atteint une couche fragile enfouie, exceptionnellement une grande avalanche est possible.
A rare linear release is possible if the wetting reaches a buried weak layer; exceptionally, a large avalanche is possible.
*Départ linéaire* refers to a slab avalanche (as opposed to a point release). This is dangerous because liquid water can lubricate a *couche fragile enfouie* (buried weak layer), leading to a full-depth or large-scale release.
Déclenchements provoqués : peu probables sauf avalanche de neige humide (pourrie) sous les skis en coupant une pente trop humidifiée.
Triggered releases: unlikely except for wet (rotten) snow avalanches under the skis when cutting across an overly saturated slope.
*Pourrie* (rotten) describes snow that has lost all strength due to high water content. *En coupant* refers to a skier's path traversing or cutting across a slope, which can trigger a slide in heavy, wet snow.
Matinée ensoleillée puis quelques nuages en cours de journée.
Sunny morning, then a few clouds during the day.
*Matinée* specifically means the duration of the morning. *En cours de journée* means as the day progresses.
Enneigement : à peine correct pour la saison, la chaleur est durablement excessive et la neige fond à vue d'œil.
Snow cover: barely adequate for the season, the heat is persistently excessive and the snow is melting visibly.
*À peine correct* means just barely okay. *À vue d'œil* is an idiom meaning "before one's eyes" or very rapidly/noticeably.
Limite skiable : vers 1500 m en nord, 1900 m en sud en pente douce, bien plus haut en pente sud raide.
Skiable limit: around 1500m on North aspects, 1900m on gentle South slopes, much higher on steep South slopes.
*Pente douce* means a gentle or mellow slope. Steeper South slopes lose snow faster due to more direct solar radiation, hence the *bien plus haut* (much higher) limit.
Qualité de la neige : neige de printemps après un bon regel nocturne.
Snow quality: spring snow after a good overnight freeze.
*Regel nocturne* (nightly refreeze) is the crucial mechanism that stabilizes the snowpack overnight in spring. Without it, the avalanche risk remains high even in the morning.
Neige dure aux premières heures du jour puis moquette de la matinée à la mi journée suivant orientations et altitudes.
Hard snow in the early hours of the day, then "moquette" (corn snow) from morning to mid-day depending on aspects and altitudes.
*Moquette* (literally "carpet") is the French term for perfect corn snow—a thin layer of thawed crystals over a firm base. It is the gold standard for spring skiing.
En altitude, la ramollie doucement, surtout en versant Nord.
At high altitudes, it softens slowly, especially on North aspects.
There is a minor typo in the French (*la ramollie* should likely be *elle ramollit*). *Ramollir* means to soften, indicating the transition from frozen crust to skiable snow.
Neige devenant pourrie au fil des heures.
Snow becoming rotten as the hours pass.
*Au fil des heures* means as the hours go by. *Neige pourrie* is the end-stage of the daily cycle where the snow is too deep and soft to support a skier safely.
French Term English Term Definition Source
Départ spontané Naturally triggered avalanche Avalanche not caused by external forces, e.g. snowfall or loss in firmness due to weather conditions. European Avalanche Warning Services
déclenchable Skier-triggered release An avalanche caused by the weight of a person (skier, snowboarder, hiker) or by explosives. The additional load collapses a weak layer, causing the slab above to fracture and slide. AvalancheClarity Static Glossary
Fragile Prone to triggering A snowpack or snow layer that tends to release from additional loading. European Avalanche Warning Services
Adret South-facing slopes The sunny, south-facing side of a mountain. Snow becomes wet more quickly due to solar radiation. AvalancheClarity Static Glossary
Avalanche de neige mouillèe Wet snow avalanches Avalanche of wet snow masses. European Avalanche Warning Services
Enneigement Snow conditions The depth and distribution of snow on the ground across a mountain range. Varies with elevation, aspect, and snowfall history. AvalancheClarity Static Glossary
Surtout In particular In general, avalanches can be triggered by high additional loading, in isolated cases by minimum additional loading. European Avalanche Warning Services
marqué considerable Snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes. Triggering is possible even from low additional loads, particularly on indicated steep slopes. In certain situations, some large natural avalanches are possible. European Avalanche Warning Services
Pente ensoleillée Sunny slopes Terrain heavily impacted by direct solar radiation. European Avalanche Warning Services
Regel Refreezing Overnight freezing of the snow surface forming a hard crust. Refreezing temporarily stabilises the snowpack but strength decreases with daytime warming. AvalancheClarity Static Glossary
Manteau neigeux Snow cover Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers. European Avalanche Warning Services
Hauteur de neige Snow depth Thickness of the snowpack measured vertically. European Avalanche Warning Services
Stabilisé Stabilized See: Increasing firmness (of a snow layer) European Avalanche Warning Services
Neige gros sel Corn snow Snow which has persisted through the winter. It usually consist of large, grains from melt-freeze metamorphism. Often the entire snowpack is isothermal, contains liquid water, and layer boundaries are obscured. Avalanche Center (US)
Stabilité Stability The strength of a snowpack to withstand internal and external disturbances.Stability is determined by firmness vs. stress inside a snow layer. European Avalanche Warning Services
très fort very high Snowpack is generally unstable. Many large natural avalanches are expected, even on moderately steep terrain. Extremely dangerous conditions — avoid all avalanche terrain. European Avalanche Warning Services
Neige humide Wet snow The wet snow problem is related to the weakening of the snowpack due to the presence of liquid water. Water infiltrates the snowpack due to high radiation impact (sunshine) which leads to melt or rain (advecting energy into the snowpack leading to melt as well). European Avalanche Warning Services
limité moderate Snowpack is moderately well bonded on some steep slopes, otherwise generally well bonded. Triggering is possible with high additional loads, particularly on indicated steep slopes. Large natural avalanches unlikely. European Avalanche Warning Services
Exposition Aspects Direction in which a slope faces as indicated by compass direction of the fall line; i.e. a north slope faces in a northerly direction. European Avalanche Warning Services
Coulée Sluffs A small downhill movement of snow. American Meteorological Society
Névé Firn Snow accumulated in recent years, mostly atop glaciers, intensely metamorphosed and denser because of melting and refreezing, as well as from pressures of overlying snow masses. European Avalanche Warning Services
Risque Risk Likelihood of occurrence combines mathematical probability, risk exposure and possible damages. European Avalanche Warning Services
dur hard IACS/UNESCO
faible low Snowpack is generally well bonded and stable. Triggering is generally possible only from high additional loads in a few isolated steep extreme terrain features. Only small natural avalanches possible. European Avalanche Warning Services
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Bulletin d'estimation du risque d'avalanche

(valable en dehors des pistes balisées et ouvertes)

MASSIF : Beaufortain

rédigé le samedi 25 avril 2026 à 16 h.

Pour consulter la vigilance en cours, veuillez vous rendre sur le site https://vigilance.meteofrance.fr/fr

Estimation des risques pour le dimanche 26 avril 2026

L'HUMIDIFICATION EN PROFONDEUR CONTINUE.


            Risque détaillé
NESO

Indices de risque : 5 très fort - 4 fort - 3 marqué - 2 limité - 1 faible -- En noir : les pentes les plus dangereuses

Indice de risque faible évoluant en limité.

Départs spontanés : rares départs en neige humide.

Déclenchements skieurs : peu probables sauf coulées humides sous les skis.

Stabilité du manteau neigeux jusqu'au dimanche 26 avril au soir

Situation avalancheuse typique :Neige humideNeige humide

Départs spontanés : rares avalanches de neige humide dans les pentes ensoleillées. Elles se produisent après plusieurs heures d'action du soleil, départs majoritairement ponctuels (coulées en "poires"), petites avalanches. Les pentes sud sont davantage stabilisées en cette saison déjà bien avancée avec une neige dense de type névé sur toute l'épaisseur du manteau. En versants Est, Nord et Ouest, l'humidification gagne en profondeur. Un rare départ linéaire est possible si l’humidification atteint une couche fragile enfouie, exceptionnellement une grande avalanche est possible.

Déclenchements provoqués :  peu probables sauf avalanche de neige humide (pourrie) sous les skis en coupant une pente trop humidifiée.

Qualité de la neige

    Enneigement : à peine correct pour la saison, la chaleur est durablement excessive et la neige fond à vue d'œil.

Limite skiable : vers 1500 m en nord, 1900 m en sud en pente douce, bien plus haut en pente sud raide.

Qualité de la neige : neige de printemps après un bon regel nocturne. Neige dure aux premières heures du jour puis moquette de la matinée à la mi journée suivant orientations et altitudes. En altitude, la ramollie doucement, surtout en versant Nord. Neige devenant pourrie au fil des heures.
  

Aperçu météo pour le dimanche 26 avril

nuitmatinaprès-midisoir
Matinée ensoleillée puis quelques nuages en cours de journée.
Pluie-Neige----
Iso 0°C3000 m3200 m3200 m3200 m
Vent 2000 m 5 km/h 5 km/h 5 km/h 10 km/h
Vent 3000 m 10 km/h 10 km/h 10 km/h 15 km/h

Epaisseur de neige hors-piste

sam. 25 avril N S 175 cm 2500 m 95 cm 2000 m 10 cm 1500 m 120 cm 2500 m 20 cm 2000 m 0 cm 1500 m Altitudes d'enneigement continu : Versant NORD : 1400 m Versant SUD : 1900 m

Précipitations à 1800 m

Quantités cumulées en 24 heures Neige fraîche à 1800m Neige fraîche Min Neige fraîche Max Pluie 5 10 Neige (cm) / Pluie (mm) 0 0 0 mer. 22 à 6h 0 0 0 jeu. 23 à 6h 0 0 0 ven. 24 à 6h 0 0 0 sam. 25 à 6h 0 0 0 dim. 26 à 6h 0 0 0 lun. 27 à 6h

Tendance du lundi 27 avril

Indice de risque limité

Conditions encore très printanières : risque croissant avec le réchauffement en journée.

Conditions nivo-météo des 7 derniers jours

Les 7 derniers jours

dim. 19/04lun. 20/04mar. 21/04mer. 22/04jeu. 23/04ven. 24/04sam. 25/04
03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h03h09h15h21h
Météo
Vent
(km/h)
à 3000m
2020202030252525251515202525151010201510515201010202510
Vent
(km/h)
à 2000m
101515101015101010101010101510151510105510155515205
Iso 0°CLimite pluie-neige
Altitude en m
3200
2400
1600
800
0
dim. 19/04lun. 20/04mar. 21/04mer. 22/04jeu. 23/04ven. 24/04sam. 25/04
Neige
fraîche (6h)
0 cm
Risque
d'Avalanche
Enneigement versant Nord et Sud à  1500m···   2000m- - -   2500m
Hauteur totale
de neige (cm)
240
160
80
0
3030252020151013012011511010510095190180180180180175175
dim. 19/04lun. 20/04mar. 21/04mer. 22/04jeu. 23/04ven. 24/04sam. 25/04
Limite de l'enneigement - Versant Nord   Limite de l'enneigement - Versant Sud
Limite
d'enneigement (m)
2400
2100
1800
1500
1200
900
600
300
0
1400140014001400140014001400 1800180019001900190019001900
dim. 19/04lun. 20/04mar. 21/04mer. 22/04jeu. 23/04ven. 24/04sam. 25/04
Iso 0°C LPN Météo
à
1800m
Vent à
2000m
Vent à
3000m
dim. 19/0403h3 100-
10
20
09h2 8002 500
15
20
15h2 800-
15
20
21h2 800-
10
20
lun. 20/0403h2 700-
10
30
09h2 600-
15
25
15h2 700-
10
25
21h2 600-
10
25
mar. 21/0403h2 600-
10
25
09h2 600-
10
15
15h2 700-
10
15
21h2 700-
10
20
mer. 22/0403h2 500-
10
25
09h2 700-
15
25
15h2 600-
10
15
21h2 500-
15
10
jeu. 23/0403h2 500-
15
10
09h2 700-
10
20
15h2 900-
10
15
21h3 100-
5
10
ven. 24/0403h3 100-
5
5
09h3 100-
10
15
15h3 200-
15
20
21h3 300-
5
10
sam. 25/0403h3 100-
5
10
09h3 000-
15
20
15h3 000-
20
25
21h3 100-
5
10
Risque
avalanche
Limite enneigement Enneigement à
2000m
Neige fraîche à
1800m
dim. 19/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 800 m
N : 130 cm
S : 55 cm
0 cm
lun. 20/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 800 m
N : 120 cm
S : 45 cm
0 cm
mar. 21/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 115 cm
S : 40 cm
0 cm
mer. 22/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 110 cm
S : 40 cm
0 cm
jeu. 23/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 105 cm
S : 35 cm
0 cm
ven. 24/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 100 cm
S : 30 cm
0 cm
sam. 25/04N : 1 400 m
S : 1 900 m
N : 95 cm
S : 20 cm

La documentation utile à la bonne lecture de ce BRA est disponible sur le guide avalanche 2025

Rédigé par Météo-France avec la contribution des observateurs du réseau nivo-météorologique. Partenariat : ANMSM (Maires de Stations de Montagne), DSF (Domaines Skiables de France), ADSP (Directeurs de Pistes et de la Sécurité des Stations de Sports d'Hiver) et autres acteurs de la montagne.