Thursday 12 November 2026 Pelvoux avalanche bulletin · valid until Thursday 18:00

3 2

Considerable Above 3000 m

Moderate Below 3000 m

Rising during the day

2 3 rising from moderate to considerable Above 3000 m
Aspects

All aspects

Avalanche problems
  • New snow
  • Persistent weak layer
Tomorrow, Friday

Considerable (3) No change

Since Wednesday Danger level: 2 → 3 Split altitude moved from 2800 m to 3000 m New main problem: new snow No longer a main problem: wind slab

The danger level rises from 2 (Moderate) to 3 (Considerable) above 3000 m, up from 2800 m previously. Wind slabs are now forming above 2800 to 3000 m on all aspects and are easy to trigger, replacing the small instabilities seen before. AI summary comparing the two official bulletins.

Assessment

Updated 7 hours ago

Summary

Above 3000 m danger level 2 (Moderate) rising to level 3 (Considerable), and lower down danger level 2 (Moderate).

Key messages

  • Danger level 3 (Considerable) above 3000 m, level 2 (Moderate) below.
  • Wind slabs are forming above 2800 to 3000 m on all aspects and are easily triggered, especially on west, north and east-facing slopes.
  • Heavy snowfall is expected above 2800 to 3000 m; avoid steep terrain and loaded gullies at high altitude.

AI summary of the official Météo-France bulletin. Always read the full bulletin.

Skier-triggered

Slabs forming at high altitude, under southwesterly winds.

Natural

With the snowfall at high altitude, small to medium-sized natural avalanches.

Tomorrow

Friday 13 November

Considerable (3) No change

Danger level 3 (Considerable)

Danger stays Considerable at high altitude. Weather returns to dry conditions. The slabs formed on Thursday remain sensitive at the highest elevations and on west, north and east-facing slopes.

Snowpack and avalanche problems

New snow

Snowfall (New Snow Problem). Fresh snowfall forming a soft slab on top of existing layers.

Persistent weak layer

Persistent Weak Layer (Old Snow Problem). A buried weak layer (facets, depth hoar) causing unpredictable, large avalanches.

Snowpack becoming very unstable at high altitude in the core of the massif

Triggered avalanches

Slabs are forming above 2800 to 3000 m on all aspects, under the windblown snowfall of this Thursday. They are more numerous and sensitive in the heart of the massif, especially on west, north and east-facing slopes, where the late October base layer has probably changed into angular grains. Easily triggered, these slabs can produce small to medium avalanches (size 1 to 2). On Thursday afternoon, fractures may be deeper and involve large volumes of snow, especially in accumulation zones or loaded gullies. Below 2800 to 3000 m, the accidental risk is more limited. The snowpack is often thin and well soaked by rain.

Spontaneous avalanches

New snow avalanches of size 1 to 2 are possible during snowfall, on steep slopes above 2800 to 3000 m.

Snow cover and skiing

Measured 11 Nov 2026

1900 m
Skiable from, north faces
2200 m
Skiable from, south faces
0 cm
Fresh snow in 24 h at 1800 m

Snow depth by elevation (cm)

  • North faces
  • South faces

Snow quality

Snow cover qualification

Following recent snowfall, the snow cover is becoming adequate for early November. Between 15 and 40 cm is recorded in the 2000 to 3000 m band on northern slopes. The Nivôse des Écrins weather station (2970 m) reports 35 cm of snow. Skiable snow limit: from 2000 to 2200 m on some shaded alpine pastures, but there is no base layer except above 2800 to 3000 m on fully north-facing slopes. Rocks remain poorly buried and glaciers are heavily crevassed.

Surface snow condition

The snow is often wetted by rain up to about 2800 m. At higher altitude a deeper layer of new snow is starting to form (30 to 40 cm, locally more). This snow is hardened by wind on exposed slopes, but cold and light in sheltered places.

Weather today

Grey and rainy weather. Heavy snowfall above 2800 to 3000 m, with 30 to 50 cm expected by this evening.

06:00 Thu Cloudy
Wind 3000 m
50 km/h W
Wind 2000 m
25 km/h S
Freezing level
2800 m
Snow line
—
12:00 Thu Rain, snow higher up
Wind 3000 m
50 km/h SW
Wind 2000 m
25 km/h S
Freezing level
2900 m
Snow line
2500 m
18:00 Thu Rain, snow higher up
Wind 3000 m
50 km/h W
Wind 2000 m
25 km/h SE
Freezing level
3100 m
Snow line
2800 m
00:00 Fri Rain, snow higher up
Wind 3000 m
40 km/h W
Wind 2000 m
20 km/h SW
Freezing level
2900 m
Snow line
2400 m
  • Wind of 50 km/h or more
  • Arrow points where the wind blows to

Last 7 days

Shaded column is the forecast

50 km/h
Strongest wind, from the SW, 3000 m, Tue 10, 00:00
1900–3100 m
Freezing level range
20 cm
Fresh snow over 7 days at 1800 m
Thu 5 Nov
Fri 6 Nov
Sat 7 Nov
Sun 8 Nov
Mon 9 Nov
Tue 10 Nov
Wed 11 Nov
Thu 12 Forecast
Sky6 h slots
Snow
Snow
Rain, snow higher up
Snow
Mostly clear
Mostly clear
Snow
Partly cloudy
Mostly clear
Clear
Clear
High cloud
Partly cloudy
Partly cloudy
Rain, snow higher up
Low cloud or fog
Rain, snow higher up
Rain, snow higher up
Rain, snow higher up
Rain, snow higher up
Rain, snow higher up
Rain, snow higher up
Showers
Partly cloudy
Partly cloudy
Partly cloudy
Rain, snow higher up
Partly cloudy
Cloudy
Rain, snow higher up
Rain, snow higher up
Rain, snow higher up
Wind3000 m, km/h
25
25
25
20
20
15
15
10
25
15
20
25
20
30
40
40
40
40
40
50
45
35
30
30
30
35
40
45
50
50
50
40
Wind2000 m, km/h
15
15
15
15
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
5
10
15
20
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
10
10
15
15
20
25
25
25
25
20
Freezing levelmetres, dashed: snow line 1000 2000 3000 4000
Fresh snow1800 m, 24 h, cm
—
5
15
0
0
0
0
—
Snow depth2000 m, N / S, cm
5 / 5
5 / 5
25 / 15
25 / 15
20 / 10
10 / 0
5 / 0
—
Dangermax level
  • Freezing level
  • Snow line
  • Fresh snow
  • Snow depth, north faces
  • Snow depth, south faces
  • Wind of 50 km/h or more
  • Today's forecast

About this bulletin

Issued
Wednesday 11 November 2026, 16:00 by Météo-France Valid until Thursday 12 November, 18:00
Source
Official bulletin at Météo-France ↗ Fetched from Météo-France's public data API
Translation
Translated from French by AvaRisk. Translations can contain errors, so check the official bulletin before you decide.
AvaRisk shows this bulletin for information only and takes no responsibility for its accuracy, completeness or timeliness. Always consult official sources and use your own judgement before travelling in avalanche terrain.