AvalancheClarity

Vanoise

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

Ski resorts in this massif: Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, La Tania, Brides-les-Bains, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, La Plagne, Peisey-Vallandry, Champagny-en-Vanoise, Montchavin-Les Coches, Pralognan-la-Vanoise, Valmorel, Bozel

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: Vanoise

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 but possible large wet snow releases.

Skier-triggered release: 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 exposure, mostly point-release starts (pear-shaped sluffs), small avalanches. South slopes are more stabilized in this already well-advanced season with dense firn-type snow throughout the snow cover depth. 
On East and West slopes at altitude, as well as on North aspects, the wetting is gaining depth. A rare linear release is possible when the wetting reaches a buried weak layer, a large avalanche (size 3) becomes possible. 

Skier-triggered release: unlikely except for wet (rotten) snow avalanches under skis when cutting a slope that is too wet.

Other: reported cornice falls, rare glide slabs.

Snow quality

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

Skiable limit: around 1600 m on north aspects, 2000/2200 m on gentle south slopes, much higher on steep south slopes.

Snow quality: spring snow after a good overnight refreezing. Hard snow in the early hours of the day then quickly corn snow from morning to midday depending on orientations and altitudes. Snow becomes rotten quickly in the morning on East slopes and generally everywhere in the afternoon. You must go above 3000 m on due North aspects to find a little cold snow locally as old powder, often hardened by the wind.
  

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 2500 m 5 km/h 5 km/h 5 km/h 10 km/h
Wind 3500 m 10 km/h 10 km/h 10 km/h 15 km/h

Off-piste snow depth

Sat. 25 April N S 125 cm 2500 m 45 cm 2000 m 0 cm 1500 m 50 cm 2500 m 0 cm 2000 m 0 cm 1500 m Continuous snow cover altitudes: North face : 1600 m South face : 2100 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 3500m
2025303030353035353030353540251015302515105201010202010
Wind
(km/h)
at 2500m
1015202010152015151515151520205101010555155515155
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)
200
160
120
80
40
0
80706560555045140130130130130125125
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)
2700
2400
2100
1800
1500
1200
900
600
300
0
1600160016001600160016001600 2000210021002100210021002100
Sun. 19/04Mon. 20/04Tue. 21/04Wed. 22/04Thu. 23/04Fri. 24/04Sat. 25/04
Iso 0°C RSL Weather
at
1800m
Wind at
2500m
Wind at
3500m
Sun. 19/0403h3 100-
10
20
09h2 800-
15
25
15h2 800-
20
30
21h2 800-
20
30
Mon. 20/0403h2 800-
10
30
09h2 800-
15
35
15h2 800-
20
30
21h2 600-
15
35
Tue. 21/0403h2 600-
15
35
09h2 700-
15
30
15h2 800-
15
30
21h2 700-
15
35
Wed. 22/0403h2 500-
15
35
09h2 700-
20
40
15h2 600-
20
25
21h2 500-
5
10
Thu. 23/0403h2 500-
10
15
09h2 700-
10
30
15h2 900-
10
25
21h3 100-
5
15
Fri. 24/0403h3 100-
5
10
09h3 100-
5
5
15h3 100-
15
20
21h3 300-
5
10
Sat. 25/0403h3 100-
5
10
09h3 000-
15
20
15h3 000-
15
20
21h3 000-
5
10
Avalanche
risk
Snow limit Snow depth at
2000m
Fresh snow at
1800m
Sun. 19/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 000 m
N : 80 cm
S : 5 cm
0 cm
Mon. 20/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 70 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
Tue. 21/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 65 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
Wed. 22/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 60 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
Thu. 23/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 55 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
Fri. 24/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 50 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
Sat. 25/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 45 cm
S : 0 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 (from melt or rain) percolating through the snowpack. **En profondeur** means "at depth" or "deeply."
Départs spontanés : rares avalanches de neige humide dans les pentes ensoleillées.
Natural releases: rare wet snow avalanches on sunny slopes.
**Départs spontanés** (literally "spontaneous starts") is the standard term for natural avalanches. **Pentes ensoleillées** means sunny slopes, indicating the solar influence on stability.
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 action, mostly point releases ("pear-shaped" flows), small avalanches.
**Départs ponctuels** refers to point-release avalanches (starting from a single point). **Coulées en poires** is a descriptive French term for these, as they widen as they descend, resembling a pear shape.
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 slopes are more stabilized in this already well-advanced season with dense neve-type snow through the whole thickness of the pack.
**Davantage** means "more." **Névé** refers to firn or very old, dense, recrystallized snow that survives multiple melt-freeze cycles. **Manteau** is short for *manteau neigeux* (snowpack).
En versants Est et Ouest d'altitude, ainsi qu'en Nord, l'humidification gagne en profondeur.
On high-altitude East and West aspects, as well as North, the wetting is gaining depth.
**Versants** means slopes/aspects. **Gagne en profondeur** implies the liquid water is reaching deeper layers of the snowpack that were previously dry or cold.
Un rare départ linéaire est possible quand l’humidification atteint une couche fragile enfouie, une grande avalanche (taille 3) devient possible.
A rare linear release is possible when the wetting reaches a buried weak layer; a large avalanche (size 3) becomes possible.
**Départ linéaire** is the technical term for a slab avalanche. **Couche fragile enfouie** means a buried weak layer. When water reaches these layers, it can lubricate them or cause them to collapse.
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 skis when cutting a slope that is too wet.
**Déclenchements provoqués** refers to human-triggered avalanches. **Pourrie** (rotten) describes unbonded, water-saturated snow that has lost all strength. **Coupant une pente** refers to the action of skiing across a slope.
Autres : chutes de corniches signalées, rares plaques de fond.
Other: cornice falls reported, rare glide avalanches.
**Corniches** are overhanging snow ridges. **Plaques de fond** are glide avalanches where the entire snowpack slides on the ground (typically on grassy or rocky slabs).
Matinée ensoleillée puis quelques nuages en cours de journée.
Sunny morning then a few clouds during the day.
**En cours de journée** is a common phrase meaning "during the course of the day."
Enneigement : déficitaire pour la saison, la chaleur est durablement excessive et la neige fond à vue d'œil.
Snowpack: below average for the season, the heat is persistently excessive and the snow is melting visibly.
**Déficitaire** means there is a deficit (less snow than normal). **À vue d'œil** is an idiom meaning "before one's very eyes" or "visibly/rapidly."
Limite skiable : vers 1600 m en nord, 2000/2200 m en sud en pente douce, bien plus haut en pente sud raide.
Skiable limit: around 1600m on North, 2000/2200m on South on gentle slopes, much higher on steep South slopes.
**Pente douce** means a gentle/mellow slope, while **pente raide** means a steep slope.
Qualité de la neige : neige de printemps après un bon regel nocturne.
Snow quality: spring snow after a good overnight refreeze.
**Regel nocturne** is the critical process where the snowpack freezes at night, providing stability in the morning.
Neige dure aux premières heures du jour puis rapidement moquette de la matinée à la mi journée suivant orientations et altitudes.
Hard snow in the first hours of the day then quickly 'moquette' (corn snow) from morning to midday depending on aspects and altitudes.
**Moquette** (literally "carpet") is the French term for perfect corn snow: a thin layer of melted slush over a firm base.
Neige pourrie rapidement le matin en versant Est et généralement partout après midi.
Snow turns rotten quickly in the morning on East aspects and generally everywhere in the afternoon.
East aspects receive the sun first, hence the snow becomes **pourrie** (saturated/loss of strength) earlier there.
Il faut monter au-dessus de 3000 m en plein Nord pour trouver un peu de neige froide localement en vieille poudre, souvent bétonnée par le vent.
One must climb above 3000m due North to find a bit of cold snow—locally as old powder, often hardened like concrete by the wind.
**Plein Nord** means directly/due North. **Bétonnée** comes from "béton" (concrete), describing very hard, wind-packed snow.
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
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
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
reptation Glide Slabs A cohesive slab of snow, often consisting of the entire snowpack, that lacks significant support or friction from the bed surface. Avalanche Canada
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
Couches fragiles Weak layer Snowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. 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
Corniche Cornice An overhanging mass of snow created by wind, usually near a sharp terrain break such as a ridge. 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 : Vanoise

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 mais possibles grands départs en neige humide.

Déclenchements skieurs : 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 et Ouest d'altitude, ainsi qu'en Nord, l'humidification gagne en profondeur. Un rare départ linéaire est possible quand l’humidification atteint une couche fragile enfouie, une grande avalanche (taille 3) devient possible. 

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

Autres : chutes de corniches signalées, rares plaques de fond.

Qualité de la neige

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

Limite skiable : vers 1600 m en nord,  2000/2200 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 rapidement moquette de la matinée à la mi journée suivant orientations et altitudes. Neige pourrie rapidement le matin en versant Est et généralement partout après midi. Il faut monter au-dessus de 3000 m en plein Nord pour trouver un peu de neige froide  localement en vieille poudre, souvent bétonnée par le vent.
  

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 2500 m 5 km/h 5 km/h 5 km/h 10 km/h
Vent 3500 m 10 km/h 10 km/h 10 km/h 15 km/h

Epaisseur de neige hors-piste

sam. 25 avril N S 125 cm 2500 m 45 cm 2000 m 0 cm 1500 m 50 cm 2500 m 0 cm 2000 m 0 cm 1500 m Altitudes d'enneigement continu : Versant NORD : 1600 m Versant SUD : 2100 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 3500m
2025303030353035353030353540251015302515105201010202010
Vent
(km/h)
à 2500m
1015202010152015151515151520205101010555155515155
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)
200
160
120
80
40
0
80706560555045140130130130130125125
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)
2700
2400
2100
1800
1500
1200
900
600
300
0
1600160016001600160016001600 2000210021002100210021002100
dim. 19/04lun. 20/04mar. 21/04mer. 22/04jeu. 23/04ven. 24/04sam. 25/04
Iso 0°C LPN Météo
à
1800m
Vent à
2500m
Vent à
3500m
dim. 19/0403h3 100-
10
20
09h2 800-
15
25
15h2 800-
20
30
21h2 800-
20
30
lun. 20/0403h2 800-
10
30
09h2 800-
15
35
15h2 800-
20
30
21h2 600-
15
35
mar. 21/0403h2 600-
15
35
09h2 700-
15
30
15h2 800-
15
30
21h2 700-
15
35
mer. 22/0403h2 500-
15
35
09h2 700-
20
40
15h2 600-
20
25
21h2 500-
5
10
jeu. 23/0403h2 500-
10
15
09h2 700-
10
30
15h2 900-
10
25
21h3 100-
5
15
ven. 24/0403h3 100-
5
10
09h3 100-
5
5
15h3 100-
15
20
21h3 300-
5
10
sam. 25/0403h3 100-
5
10
09h3 000-
15
20
15h3 000-
15
20
21h3 000-
5
10
Risque
avalanche
Limite enneigement Enneigement à
2000m
Neige fraîche à
1800m
dim. 19/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 000 m
N : 80 cm
S : 5 cm
0 cm
lun. 20/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 70 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
mar. 21/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 65 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
mer. 22/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 60 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
jeu. 23/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 55 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
ven. 24/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 50 cm
S : 0 cm
0 cm
sam. 25/04N : 1 600 m
S : 2 100 m
N : 45 cm
S : 0 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.