LATEST: French Alps on avalanche warning after snow wreaks havoc
The orange alert is its second highest warning level, indicating that anyone in the area should be 'very vigilant', stay informed of developments and follow safety advice issued by public authorities.
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Explained: How France's weather warning system works
"The large quantities of recent snow will start to melt as temperatures rise and the sun returns during the day on Friday.
"Avalanche activity will be much lower than on Thursday, but major avalanches are still possible as the recent snow moistens during the day. Locally, these avalanches could reach infrastructures or roads that are usually exposed," the forecaster said.
The twin warnings came after more than a metre of snow fell in a few hours in the Alps on Thursday, as a spring storm left at least one dead and
caused widespread chaos and road closures
.
As of Friday morning, all departmental roads in Savoie had been reopened, with the exception of the Arvan tunnel.
In the French resort of Val Thorens, a woman suffered cardiac arrest after being buried in an avalanche, authorities said, while several French ski resorts were closed – including Tignes – were closed.
The popular ski resort's mayor, Serge Revial, told Franceinfo on Friday that, 'the situation is slowly returning to normal', the morning after residents and visitors were confined to their homes and hotels because of heavy snowfall and risk of avalanches – with restrictions in place 'until further notice'.
Thursday's lockdown had applied to 'all neighborhoods, villages, and hamlets in Tignes. Travel within the same neighborhood is only permitted between 3pm and 8pm,' according to the resort's website.
'The snow and precipitation conditions were very intense and complicated, and that's why we took a drastic decision to protect the safety of our fellow citizens,' Revial said.
What about skiing on Friday?
He added that the ski area 'will be partially reopened' on Friday morning, but that 'under no circumstances should one go off-piste,' because of the risk of avalanches.
READ MORE:
Is skiing in France becoming more dangerous?
'With what fell on the previous snow cover, it is very dangerous, and we urge the utmost caution. You must stay on the open slopes," Revial said.
Corentin Hassmann, commander of the Savoie high mountain gendarmerie platoon, explained to Franceinfo that "the sun will heat up the snow and make it heavier".
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Hassman echoed Revial's warning about the dangers, despite the return of more pleasant conditions. 'Mountain enthusiasts will have to be extra vigilant,' he said, and urged skiers and residents to '[stay] in secure areas' and heed the advice of officials.
The avalanche risk remains 'high' at all altitudes, he added, which he said was 'surprising at this time of year'.
Huge volumes of snow
A number of ski resorts – in Switzerland and Italy, as well as France – were closed because of the snow storm, while rail services were cancelled, roads cut off and schools closed.
In Italy, two people were still missing as of Friday morning.
Although snow in April is not rare, the amount that has fallen took authorities and residents by surprise.
'Cars are covered up to the roof... Just walking outside is worrying,' Mathis, a hotel employee in Tignes who declined to give his full name, told AFP.
'In such a short time, this is an enormous amount,' said Yann Geaudry, a retired cross-country ski instructor in the French village of Termignon, worried about the risk of floods when the snow melts in the spring sunshine.
Heavy trucks were banned from using the main Mont Blanc tunnel between France and Italy.
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Trains were also affected, and at one point more than 3,300 French homes were without power, according to authorities in the Savoie.
'It's truly exceptional,' said Didier Beauchet, a retiree who has lived in Lanslebourg for 40 years. 'I must have seen that only five times,' he told AFP, as motorists around him worked to free their snow-covered cars.
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