Belledonne
Moderate Bulletin date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 04:00 PM
Valid until:
Ski resorts in this massif: Chamrousse, Les 7 Laux, Le Collet d'Allevard, Saint-Colomban-des-Villards, Le Barioz Alpin
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: Belledonne
written on Saturday, 25 April 2026 at 4 p.m.
Risk assessment for Sunday, 26 April 2026
SPRING SNOW COVER, RARE "MELT" AVALANCHE.
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 wet avalanches or full-depth releases, mostly on "cold" aspects.
Skier-triggered release: Unlikely, or under the skis in very wet snow (steep slopes)...
Stability of the snow cover until Sunday, 26 April evening
Typical avalanche situation:
Wet snow
Naturally triggered avalanche: On East, North and West slopes, where wetting deepens, rare wet avalanches may occur during the warmer hours of the day or in the evening. Size 1 to 2 with point releases, but exceptionally, a large size 3 avalanche cannot be ruled out with a full-depth release. On South aspects, less snow and very dense, almost firn, stable... Skier-triggered release: Unlikely, except for a moderate risk of a point sluff under the skis on steep and well-moistened terrain. Other: Snow sometimes hardened / crusted due to refreezing in the shade, especially at the start of the day.
Snow quality
Snow conditions: Snow conditions have significantly decreased over the last 3 weeks, it is becoming below average on South aspects and in the mid-mountain. It remains sufficient on high-altitude North slopes.
Skiable limits: Around 1500/1700m in the North to 1900/2200m depending on the aspect, the steepness of the slope...
Snow quality Sunday: Bumpy snow, sometimes crusted / hardened by refreezing (medium to decent at altitude). Then wetting and melting resume, quite quickly in the sun, resulting in very wet snow.
Weather overview for Sunday, 26 April
| night | morning | afternoon | evening | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  | |
| Sun sometimes veiled by high clouds. A few isolated cumulus clouds in the afternoon. | ||||
| Rain-Snow | - | - | - | - |
| Iso 0°C | 3100 m | 3300 m | 3200 m | 3200 m |
| Wind 2000 m | 10 km/h | 10 km/h | 10 km/h | 10 km/h |
| Wind 3000 m | 15 km/h | 15 km/h | 15 km/h | 15 km/h |
Off-piste snow depth
Precipitation at 1800 m
Outlook for Monday, 27 April
Risk index moderate
Monday, the risk changes little. Some nocturnal refreezing again, then continued wetting and melting.
Snow-weather conditions for the last 7 days
Last 7 days
| Sun. 19/04 | Mon. 20/04 | Tue. 21/04 | Wed. 22/04 | Thu. 23/04 | Fri. 24/04 | Sat. 25/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | |
| Weather |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | |  | |
| Wind (km/h) at 3000m | 20 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 35 | 35 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 15 |
| Wind (km/h) at 2000m | 10 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 |
Iso 0°CRain-snow limit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Altitude (m) 3200 2400 1600 800 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sun. 19/04 | Mon. 20/04 | Tue. 21/04 | Wed. 22/04 | Thu. 23/04 | Fri. 24/04 | Sat. 25/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fresh snow (6h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Avalanche Risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow cover North and South at 1500m··· 2000m- - - 2500m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total snow depth (cm) 320 240 160 80 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sun. 19/04 | Mon. 20/04 | Tue. 21/04 | Wed. 22/04 | Thu. 23/04 | Fri. 24/04 | Sat. 25/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow limit - North face Snow limit - South face | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow limit (m) 2400 2100 1800 1500 1200 900 600 300 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sun. 19/04 | Mon. 20/04 | Tue. 21/04 | Wed. 22/04 | Thu. 23/04 | Fri. 24/04 | Sat. 25/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iso 0°C | RSL | Weather at 1800m |
Wind at 2000m |
Wind at 3000m |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun. 19/04 | 03h | 2 800 | - | | 10 | 20 |
| 09h | 2 900 | 2 700 | | 15 | 20 | |
| 15h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 25 | |
| 21h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 30 | |
| Mon. 20/04 | 03h | 2 800 | - | | 10 | 25 |
| 09h | 2 700 | - | | 15 | 25 | |
| 15h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 25 | |
| 21h | 2 700 | - | | 15 | 30 | |
| Tue. 21/04 | 03h | 2 700 | - | | 10 | 35 |
| 09h | 2 700 | - | | 10 | 30 | |
| 15h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 30 | |
| 21h | 2 900 | - | | 10 | 25 | |
| Wed. 22/04 | 03h | 2 800 | - | | 10 | 35 |
| 09h | 2 800 | - | | 15 | 35 | |
| 15h | 2 700 | - | | 20 | 25 | |
| 21h | 2 700 | - | | 10 | 15 | |
| Thu. 23/04 | 03h | 2 600 | - | | 10 | 15 |
| 09h | 2 700 | - | | 15 | 20 | |
| 15h | 2 900 | - | | 15 | 25 | |
| 21h | 3 100 | - | | 10 | 15 | |
| Fri. 24/04 | 03h | 3 100 | - | | 10 | 15 |
| 09h | 3 200 | - | | 5 | 5 | |
| 15h | 3 300 | - | | 15 | 10 | |
| 21h | 3 200 | - | | 10 | 5 | |
| Sat. 25/04 | 03h | 3 200 | - | | 10 | 10 |
| 09h | 3 100 | - | | 15 | 20 | |
| 15h | 3 000 | - | | 15 | 20 | |
| 21h | 3 000 | - | | 10 | 15 | |
| Avalanche risk |
Snow limit | Snow depth at 2000m |
Fresh snow at 1800m |
|||
| Sun. 19/04 | N : 1 400 m S : 1 800 m | N : 210 cm S : 40 cm | 1 cm | |||
| Mon. 20/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 200 cm S : 30 cm | 0 cm | |||
| Tue. 21/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 195 cm S : 20 cm | 0 cm | |||
| Wed. 22/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 190 cm S : 15 cm | 0 cm | |||
| Thu. 23/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 190 cm S : 15 cm | 0 cm | |||
| Fri. 24/04 | N : 1 600 m S : 2 000 m | N : 190 cm S : 10 cm | 0 cm | |||
| Sat. 25/04 | N : 1 600 m S : 2 000 m | N : 185 cm S : 5 cm | ||||
| French | Translation & Notes |
|---|---|
| MANTEAU NEIGEUX PRINTANIER, RARE AVALANCHE DE "FONTE". | SPRING SNOWPACK, RARE "MELT" AVALANCHES. *Manteau neigeux* means snowpack. *Printanier* (spring-like) indicates the seasonal transition where the melt-freeze cycle dominates. *Fonte* refers specifically to the melting process. |
| Départs spontanés : Dans les pentes Est, Nord et Ouest, où l'humidification gagne en profondeur, de rares avalanches humides peuvent se produire aux heures chaudes de la journée ou le soir. | Spontaneous releases: On East, North, and West slopes, where wetting is penetrating deeper, rare wet avalanches may occur during the hot hours of the day or in the evening. *Humidification* is the process of water infiltrating the snowpack. *Gagne en profondeur* (gaining depth) is a warning that the liquid water is reaching deeper layers, potentially weakening them. *Heures chaudes* refers to the peak solar radiation period. |
| De taille 1 à 2 avec départ ponctuel, mais exceptionnellement, une grande avalanche de taille 3 ne peut être exclue avec départ au terrain. | Size 1 to 2 with point releases, but exceptionally, a large size 3 avalanche cannot be excluded with a ground-level release. *Départ ponctuel* refers to a point-release (loose snow) avalanche, common in wet snow. *Départ au terrain* (release at the ground) implies a full-depth avalanche, often much more dangerous as it involves the entire snowpack sliding on the bedrock or soil. |
| En faces Sud, moins de neige et très dense, presque de névé, stable... | On South faces, less snow and very dense, almost firn, stable... *Névé* refers to old, compacted snow that has survived several melt cycles; it is typically very stable because it has lost its fragile crystal structure and become a dense mass. |
| Déclenchements provoqués : Peu probables, hormis un risque limité de coulée ponctuelle sous les skis en terrain raide et bien humidifié. | Triggered releases: Unlikely, except for a limited risk of a point-release sluff under skis in steep and well-wetted terrain. *Coulée* is often used for a small slide or sluff. *Sous les skis* (under the skis) indicates a human-triggered surface release. |
| Autres : Neige parfois durcie / croûtée par le regel à l'ombre, en début de journée notamment. | Other: Snow sometimes hardened / crusted by the refreeze in the shade, notably at the start of the day. *Regel* is a crucial term in spring bulletins; it refers to the overnight refreezing of the snow surface, which provides stability in the morning but creates a hard, slippery surface. |
| Soleil parfois voilé. | Sun sometimes veiled. *Voilé* means the sun is filtered through thin high-level clouds (cirrus), which can still allow significant solar radiation to reach the snow. |
| Quelques cumulus isolés l'après-midi. | A few isolated cumulus clouds in the afternoon. Standard meteorological term for fair-weather clouds that can sometimes lead to localized shading or instability. |
| Qualification de l’enneigement : L'enneigement s'est bien réduit depuis 3 semaines, il devient déficitaire en faces Sud et en moyenne montagne. | Snowpack assessment: Snow cover has significantly reduced over the last 3 weeks; it is becoming deficient on South faces and at mid-altitudes. *Déficitaire* means the snow depth is below the historical average for this time of year. *Moyenne montagne* generally refers to elevations between 1500m and 2500m. |
| Il reste correct dans les versants Nord d'altitude. | It remains decent on high-altitude North slopes. *Versants* means slopes/sides of the mountain. *Correct* in this context means sufficient/average snow depth. |
| Limites skiables : Vers 1500/1700m en Nord à 1900/2200m suivant l'exposition au soleil, la raideur de la pente... | Skiable limits: Around 1500/1700m on North aspects to 1900/2200m depending on sun exposure, slope steepness... *Limites skiables* indicates the lowest elevation where you can reliably ski without hitting rocks/grass. *Exposition* refers to aspect (the direction the slope faces). |
| Qualité de la neige dimanche : Neige bosselée, parfois croûtée / durcie par le regel (moyen à correct en altitude). | Snow quality Sunday: Bumpy snow, sometimes crusted / hardened by the refreeze (average to decent at altitude). *Bosselée* (bumpy/mogul-like) often results from heavy skier traffic or uneven melting. *Croûtée* (crusted) refers to the hard top layer formed by the *regel*. |
| Puis l'humidification et la fonte reprennent, assez rapidement au soleil, donnant une neige très humide. | Then wetting and melting resume, quite quickly in the sun, resulting in very wet snow. This describes the daily spring cycle: the morning crust melts (*fonte*) and the pack becomes saturated with water (*très humide*), which typically increases avalanche risk. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 raide | Steep slopes | Slopes steeper than approximately 30°, where most slab avalanches occur. The steeper the slope, the lower the additional load needed to trigger a release. | AvalancheClarity Static Glossary |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| mouillée | very wet | IACS/UNESCO | |
| 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 |
| moyen | medium | IACS/UNESCO | |
| Coulée | Sluff | 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 |
| 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 |
Bulletin d'estimation du risque d'avalanche
(valable en dehors des pistes balisées et ouvertes)
MASSIF : Belledonne
rédigé le samedi 25 avril 2026 à 16 h.
Estimation des risques pour le dimanche 26 avril 2026
MANTEAU NEIGEUX PRINTANIER, RARE AVALANCHE DE "FONTE".
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 avalanches humides ou départs au terrain, plutôt en faces "froides".
Déclenchements skieurs : Peu probables, ou sous les skis en neige très humide (pentes raides)...
Stabilité du manteau neigeux jusqu'au dimanche 26 avril au soir
Situation avalancheuse typique :Neige humide
Départs spontanés : Dans les pentes Est, Nord et Ouest, où l'humidification gagne en profondeur, de rares avalanches humides peuvent se produire aux heures chaudes de la journée ou le soir. De taille 1 à 2 avec départ ponctuel, mais exceptionnellement, une grande avalanche de taille 3 ne peut être exclue avec départ au terrain. En faces Sud, moins de neige et très dense, presque de névé, stable... Déclenchements provoqués : Peu probables, hormis un risque limité de coulée ponctuelle sous les skis en terrain raide et bien humidifié. Autres : Neige parfois durcie / croûtée par le regel à l'ombre, en début de journée notamment.
Qualité de la neige
Qualification de l’enneigement : L'enneigement s'est bien réduit depuis 3 semaines, il devient déficitaire en faces Sud et en moyenne montagne. Il reste correct dans les versants Nord d'altitude.
Limites skiables : Vers 1500/1700m en Nord à 1900/2200m suivant l'exposition au soleil, la raideur de la pente...
Qualité de la neige dimanche : Neige bosselée, parfois croûtée / durcie par le regel (moyen à correct en altitude). Puis l'humidification et la fonte reprennent, assez rapidement au soleil, donnant une neige très humide.
Aperçu météo pour le dimanche 26 avril
| nuit | matin | après-midi | soir | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | |
| Soleil parfois voilé. Quelques cumulus isolés l'après-midi. | ||||
| Pluie-Neige | - | - | - | - |
| Iso 0°C | 3100 m | 3300 m | 3200 m | 3200 m |
| Vent 2000 m | 10 km/h | 10 km/h | 10 km/h | 10 km/h |
| Vent 3000 m | 15 km/h | 15 km/h | 15 km/h | 15 km/h |
Epaisseur de neige hors-piste
Précipitations à 1800 m
Tendance du lundi 27 avril
Indice de risque limité
Lundi, le risque évolue peu. A nouveau un peu de regel nocturne, puis poursuite de l'humidification et de la fonte.
Conditions nivo-météo des 7 derniers jours
Les 7 derniers jours
| dim. 19/04 | lun. 20/04 | mar. 21/04 | mer. 22/04 | jeu. 23/04 | ven. 24/04 | sam. 25/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | 03h | 09h | 15h | 21h | |
| Météo | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vent (km/h) à 3000m | 20 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 35 | 35 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 15 |
| Vent (km/h) à 2000m | 10 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 |
Iso 0°CLimite pluie-neige | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Altitude en m 3200 2400 1600 800 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| dim. 19/04 | lun. 20/04 | mar. 21/04 | mer. 22/04 | jeu. 23/04 | ven. 24/04 | sam. 25/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Neige fraîche (6h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risque d'Avalanche | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enneigement versant Nord et Sud à 1500m··· 2000m- - - 2500m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hauteur totale de neige (cm) 320 240 160 80 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| dim. 19/04 | lun. 20/04 | mar. 21/04 | mer. 22/04 | jeu. 23/04 | ven. 24/04 | sam. 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| dim. 19/04 | lun. 20/04 | mar. 21/04 | mer. 22/04 | jeu. 23/04 | ven. 24/04 | sam. 25/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iso 0°C | LPN | Météo à 1800m |
Vent à 2000m |
Vent à 3000m |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dim. 19/04 | 03h | 2 800 | - | | 10 | 20 |
| 09h | 2 900 | 2 700 | | 15 | 20 | |
| 15h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 25 | |
| 21h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 30 | |
| lun. 20/04 | 03h | 2 800 | - | | 10 | 25 |
| 09h | 2 700 | - | | 15 | 25 | |
| 15h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 25 | |
| 21h | 2 700 | - | | 15 | 30 | |
| mar. 21/04 | 03h | 2 700 | - | | 10 | 35 |
| 09h | 2 700 | - | | 10 | 30 | |
| 15h | 2 800 | - | | 20 | 30 | |
| 21h | 2 900 | - | | 10 | 25 | |
| mer. 22/04 | 03h | 2 800 | - | | 10 | 35 |
| 09h | 2 800 | - | | 15 | 35 | |
| 15h | 2 700 | - | | 20 | 25 | |
| 21h | 2 700 | - | | 10 | 15 | |
| jeu. 23/04 | 03h | 2 600 | - | | 10 | 15 |
| 09h | 2 700 | - | | 15 | 20 | |
| 15h | 2 900 | - | | 15 | 25 | |
| 21h | 3 100 | - | | 10 | 15 | |
| ven. 24/04 | 03h | 3 100 | - | | 10 | 15 |
| 09h | 3 200 | - | | 5 | 5 | |
| 15h | 3 300 | - | | 15 | 10 | |
| 21h | 3 200 | - | | 10 | 5 | |
| sam. 25/04 | 03h | 3 200 | - | | 10 | 10 |
| 09h | 3 100 | - | | 15 | 20 | |
| 15h | 3 000 | - | | 15 | 20 | |
| 21h | 3 000 | - | | 10 | 15 | |
| Risque avalanche |
Limite enneigement | Enneigement à 2000m |
Neige fraîche à 1800m |
|||
| dim. 19/04 | N : 1 400 m S : 1 800 m | N : 210 cm S : 40 cm | 1 cm | |||
| lun. 20/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 200 cm S : 30 cm | 0 cm | |||
| mar. 21/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 195 cm S : 20 cm | 0 cm | |||
| mer. 22/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 190 cm S : 15 cm | 0 cm | |||
| jeu. 23/04 | N : 1 500 m S : 1 900 m | N : 190 cm S : 15 cm | 0 cm | |||
| ven. 24/04 | N : 1 600 m S : 2 000 m | N : 190 cm S : 10 cm | 0 cm | |||
| sam. 25/04 | N : 1 600 m S : 2 000 m | N : 185 cm S : 5 cm | ||||