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Tignes Snow Report: 2nd March 2012

Feelin' hot hot hot! Temperatures on the rise but snow forecast in Espace Killy

featured in Snow report Author Debbie Priestley, Tignes Reporter Updated

The weather has been out of this world this week. It’s usually unheard of to experience such warm temperatures in February in the Alps. Great for topping up that tan, not so great for the snow, unfortunately. So, I am starting this snow report with a warning from the Henry’s Avalanche Talk Team about the off-piste conditions:

“The avalanche danger is going up to 4 tomorrow in most of the Savoie and Haute Savoie parts of the Northern French Alps. This is due to the massive warming - the freezing level, what the French call 'isotherme', is going to reach 3500 metres which is all but unheard of outside of summer.

Natural wet snow avalanches are forecast to release up to 3000 metres. Instability will start early on East & South East slopes - as early as 8am up to altitudes of 2000m and it will get more unstable as the day goes on.

Statistically speaking few skiing/ snowboarding accidents happen due to wet snow conditions although many natural avalanches do occur; this is because avalanche danger in springtime is more predictable. BUT THIS IS NOT SPRINGTIME! So tomorrow with this massive warming hitting large parts of the mountain's snowpack that has not been subjected to melt/freeze yet this season, there's going to be a lot of unpredictability. When, where and how big the avalanches are going to be, is uncertain.

An interesting point is that above 3000 m the avalanche danger will remain at a 2 (see Haute Savoie, Massif de Mt Blanc, forecast below). So maybe we should all just hang out at the Cosmiques, Gouter... and we'll be fine.”

For more info visit their website and check out our Stay safe this winter article.

Stay safe out there. We saw some pretty big wet snow avalanches today, and it looks like there will be more, bigger, slides tomorrow, so please do take care if you are skiing off piste, and really do avoid any closed pistes, as Henry’s warning will probably be the reason that they are closed. There is over two metres depth of snow at the top of the hill, so when is slides, it’s going to be a big one.

On a happier note, the skiing has been like summer skiing this week, it’s been warm enough to ditch the thermals, and everyone seems to have racoon tan lines from their goggles! All the seasonaires may be wishing for snow, but I’m sure everyone on holiday loves the sun drenched pistes, lunch on hot terraces, and après-ski on the decks. The best time to ski has been, and still is, in the mornings, as the pistes are well groomed, and the snow is not so soft. Later on in the day it starts to get very slushy and sticky, so try and make the most of the mornings, even if you have had a big night out, it really is worth while.

I’ve been spending most of my time in the snow parks over the last couple of days as the soft snow is making crashed landings a lot more pleasant. Snow parks are great places to spend sunny days even if you just want to sit and watch the crazy people throwing themselves over the massive black kickers.

The weather forecast, at the moment, is for the same sunny weather tomorrow and Sunday and, if all goes to plan, some considerable snowfall on Monday, we hope it will get colder before then though, or it might rain in town. We should be back to bluebird skies and blistering sunshine again by Wednesday though.

With the warm weather I will continue to re-enforce the fact you need to be wearing sun cream. I have the burn to prove it, so trust me on this one. Snow reflects the sun almost as well as a mirror, including all the harmful rays, and apart from anything else, sun burn is really unpleasant. On that note, so is Ice burn, so be really careful if you are skiing in a T-shirt, or anything else that’s not essentially ski wear. I saw three bumble bees on the piste today, complete with tutu skirts and wings. It looked like they were going to be pretty wet by the end of the day!

Stay safe, enjoy the sun, and enjoy the snow when it comes!

Bon ski!

Stats

Avalanche Risk
  • Level 4

Snow Report
  • 1

  • Total Pistes: 164

  • Alt. Resort: 1850m

  • Alt. Summit: 3000m

  • Alt. Last Snow: 1850m upwards

  • High Temp.: 12'c

  • Alt. High Temp.: 2000m

  • Latest Conditions: LIGHT SNOWFALLS AND SOME BRIGHT SPELLS