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First ever RED weather Warning in the French Alps 09-01-2018
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

The first ever Red weather warning has been issued in the French Alps

A Red Alert warns of a “maximum risk of avalanches”.

RED VIGILANCE FOR: Savoie.

Avalanches and Storms.
Phenomenon in progress.
End of the phenomenon scheduled on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 at 10:00 a

Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Bouches-du-Rhône (13), Savoie (73) and Var (83)

Current situation :
AVALANCHE
Situation of return of East of an unusually strong intensity on certain massifs. The heavy snowfalls overflowing Italy since Sunday continue near the border on the Savoie, the Hautes Alpes and the Alpes Maritimes.
Snowfall in 24h around 2000 m at midday near the Italian border:
In Savoie:
Haute Maurienne: 50 to 90 cm.
South of Haute Tarentaise: 60 to 80 cm.


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 8-01-18 22:52; edited 3 times in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

Only some parts of the French Alps.
My bit is quite quiet. It is snowing as forecast but very wet and sleety stuff and melt from the roof is running noisily down the gutters. Reports from the Haute Tarentaise are impressive though.

There will still be some people bleating that "you can never have too much snow" rolling eyes They should read Steve Angus's thread.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@pam w, Indeed, also some reports say a RED alert is issued once every 30 years others, say this is the first ever...
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.

boredsurfin wrote:
@pam w, Indeed, also some reports say a RED alert is issued once every 30 years others, say this is the first ever...


The alert system only came into being following the 1999 hurricane that hit France causing flooding and drowning in coastal areas.... now 2017 to 1999 is erm 18 years. So it just goes to show that you can't believe all you are told.

Meteo France are claiming it is a 30 year event, the avalanches of 1999 were supposed to be a 150 year event. Go figure.

It is the first time a "red avalanche alert" has been issued for a department in the French Alps. (Savoie) It was used in the Pyrennes 2 years ago.

As Pam points out, this is a very localized event in France affecting regions right on the border with Italy: Haute Maurienne, Haute Tarentaise and in the Hautes-Alpes: Queyras and Thabor. In those areas it could be very serious. Worth following local advice. 75km away in Grenoble today: sunshine, dry and very warm.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Quote:

Meteo France are claiming it is a 30 year event, the avalanches of 1999 were supposed to be a 150 year event. Go figure.

These figures are entirely consistent and based on the probability distributions of extreme hydrological events.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.

Here is the translated full description of what they have published.

Description:
 
Qualification of the phenomenon:
Department of Savoy, Haute Maurienne and Southern Haute Tarentaise mountains: this situation occurs on average once every 30 years.
Department of Hautes Alpes, East Queyras: situation returning on average every 5 to 10 years.
Department of Hautes Alpes, Thabor massif: situation returning on average about every 2 years.
Department of Alpes Maritimes, Mercantour Massif: situation returning on average about every 2 years.

New facts:
Passage in red vigilance of the department of Savoy (massif Haute Maurienne and South of Haute Tarentaise).
Passage in orange vigilance of the Alpes Maritimes department (Mercantour massif).

Current situation :
Situation of return of East of an unusually strong intensity on certain massifs. The heavy snowfalls overflowing Italy since Sunday continue near the border on the Savoie, the Hautes Alpes and the Alpes Maritimes.

Snowfall in 24h around 2000 m at midday near the Italian border:

In Savoie:
- Haute Maurienne: 50 to 90 cm.
- South of Haute Tarentaise: 60 to 80 cm.

In the Hautes Alpes:
- East of Queyras: about 65 to 90 cm.
- Thabor: about 40 to 50 cm.

In the Alpes Maritimes:
- Mercantour: a few centimeters.

Expected evolution:
The snowfall will continue on these mountains until the next night, the maximum intensity will occur in the evening. The rain-snow limit will be around 1500 to 1700 m. They are accompanied by a strong wind, which causes an important transport of snow. Precipitation will weaken significantly in the middle or second part of the night.

Quantities of additional fresh snow expected until the night of Monday to Tuesday:

In Savoie:
- Haute Maurienne: 80 to 100 cm.
- South of Haute Tarentaise: 60 to 80 cm.

In the Hautes Alpes:
- East Queyras: 60 to 80 cm.
- Thabor: 30 to 50 cm.

In the Alpes Maritimes:
- Mercantour: 40 to 50 cm or even locally 1 m.

The risk of avalanche is very strong (level 5 on the European scale), on the Haute Maurienne, the South of Haute Tarentaise, the East of Queyras and the massif of Thabor. He is strong (level 4) on the Mercantour.

In Savoie, massive Haute Maurienne (especially the sectors of Bonneval, Bessans) and southern Haute Tarentaise (sectors Val d'Isère, Tignes): Many and large avalanches of powder snow are to be expected in the evening of this Monday during the most intense snowfall. Higher than about 1800 m, some of them could follow unusual trajectories and touch roads or homes. The risk of avalanche will decrease significantly at the end of the night.

In the Hautes Alpes, East of the Queyras massif: Situation a little less exceptional but however preoccupying, roads and homes at risk can be affected by avalanches.

Hautes Alpes, Thabor Massif and Mercantour Massif Alps: A serious avalanche situation, roads exposed to avalanches may be threatened.
Aggravating factor: The very good snow today will promote the flow of avalanches.

Here is the link to the full details in French.

http://vigilance.meteofrance.com/Bulletin.html?a=dept73&b=
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Red alert over.
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