Pistes closed, confinement orders: Alpine resorts deal with avalanche risk
Increased snowfall this weekend may cause further closures as busy school holiday season continues
Residents and visitors in Tignes (pictures) were confined to homes overnight
beatrice preve / Alamy Stock Photo
Successive storms and sustained snowfall have put pressure on Alpine resorts on the eve of the busy winter school holiday season.
Several resorts closed their pistes on Thursday (February 12) following heightened avalanche warnings, including a red alert in the Savoie department from state forecaster Météo France.
A separate warning system specific to avalanches placed several areas of the mountain range on the highest possible 5/5 warning level on Thursday, particularly around the La Plagne area.
The risk of major avalanches increased substantially due to strong winds from Stom Nils, with gales elsewhere in France reaching up to 180 km/h.
Ferocious winds can combine with recently fallen and easy-to-dislodge snow to create sudden and powerful avalanches.
Precautions were well-founded, as several major avalanches were recorded on Thursday from Isère down to the Hautes-Alpes.
There remains a risk of further activity across the weekend.
“We fear a large number of avalanches, some large to very large, and the possibility of significant spontaneous releases,” said meteorologist Régis Crépet for La Chaîne Météo on Thursday.
“They could even reach valley floors, affect resorts or villages, and cut off roads. It’s not just on the slopes,” he added.
People travelling to Alpine resorts this weekend should therefore remain vigilant, both when driving to the resort and during their stay.
Skiers should follow instructions offered by resorts, adhering to any closures or recommendations against skiing in certain areas.
Confinement orders in place, more skiers expected
Around 20,000 residents and visitors in Tignes (Savoie) were ordered by local authorities to stay indoors overnight on Thursday due to a risk of heavy snowfall, with between 40-60cm falling.
It follows a similar confinement warning from the resort last year during a period of heightened avalanche risk.
The station currently has an occupancy rate of 78%, with this weekend marking an overlap between the school holidays in Zones ‘A’ and ‘B’, as well as in several neighbouring countries.
Alpine stations are entering one of their busiest periods of the year as many travellers head to resorts this weekend.
Further snowfall is expected concurrently, which could cause pistes to remain closed in some areas.
When avalanche risks are in place, stations may close pistes, and heavily discourage off-piste activities.
Several off-piste deaths have been recorded in the Alps so far in 2026, many due to avalanches.
