The French Alps witnessed a grim and tragic weekend as six skiers, including a British man, lost their lives in a series of avalanches that swept across several popular resorts. Despite repeated warnings from weather authorities and local officials about the heightened avalanche danger, the deaths occurred in separate incidents on Saturday, January 10, and Sunday, January 11, 2026, underscoring the perilous conditions gripping the region.
According to PlanetSKI, the fatal weekend followed days of heavy snowfall and high winds, which left the snowpack dangerously unstable. Avalanche risk levels soared to Level 4 and even Level 5—denoting “high” and “extreme” danger—across much of the northern French Alps and parts of Switzerland. The Swiss Institute for Snow & Avalanche Research issued a stark warning: “Fresh snow and large quantities of wind-drifted snow of the last four days are poorly bonded with the old snowpack. Avalanches can in many places be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach large size in isolated cases.”
The British fatality, a man in his 50s, was skiing off-piste with a group at La Plagne in southeastern France when disaster struck on Sunday afternoon. As reported by Daily Mail and confirmed by statements from the La Plagne resort, more than 50 rescuers—including medics, ski school instructors, avalanche dogs, and a helicopter—were mobilized after an alert was received at 1:57 p.m. The man was found buried under 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) of snow after nearly an hour of searching. Tragically, despite the massive rescue effort, he could not be revived. The resort stated that he was not equipped with an avalanche transceiver and was not accompanied by a professional instructor. La Plagne extended its condolences, saying, “Our thoughts are with the man’s family.”
Elsewhere on Sunday, avalanches claimed more lives. In Courchevel, one of France’s busiest ski resorts, rescue teams recovered the body of a skier who had been buried by snow, though further details were not immediately released. In Vallorcine, near Chamonix and close to the Swiss border, a 32-year-old off-piste skier died after being swept away; according to the Chamonix High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM), the force of the avalanche threw the man against a tree, and he did not survive his injuries.
The previous day, Saturday, brought its own share of devastation. Two French off-piste skiers in Val d’Isère were killed after being buried under 2.5 meters of snow in the Bellevarde area’s Lost Valley. The alarm was raised by their companions, who had remained on the marked runs and became concerned when the pair failed to return. Despite the rapid response, both victims were found too late. In a separate incident at Arêches-Beaufort, two skiers were caught in another avalanche; one died at the scene, while the other suffered a serious head injury and was hospitalized.
In Orelle, two brothers in their twenties were caught in an avalanche while skiing off-piste without avalanche transceivers. One brother was seriously injured, and the incident highlighted a recurring theme throughout the weekend: many victims were not carrying essential safety equipment. Frédéric Bonnevie, president of the Association of Slope Safety (ADSP) and managing director of lift operations in Orelle, voiced his frustration in a video message on Facebook, lamenting the widespread “non-compliance with instructions.” He remarked, “There is no small or large off-piste. Even a few metres from a marked and secured slope, you are in danger.”
Sunday also saw a snowboarder swept away by an avalanche near Tignes. The individual was found partially submerged in a lake and was hospitalized with hypothermia, according to SnowBrains. In Arc 1950, an avalanche crossed the RD119 road, but no vehicles were hit as the road had already been closed as a precaution.
The hazardous conditions not only resulted in fatalities and injuries but also disrupted travel across the region. As reported by SnowBrains, around 800 people were forced to spend Saturday night in emergency shelters and gymnasiums in Moûtiers, a key access point for Savoie’s ski resorts. An additional 29 people sought refuge in Val Thorens, and about 40 passengers were stranded overnight on a bus en route to Arc 2000.
French weather forecasters and Météo-France had repeatedly warned of the dangers, urging “extreme vigilance” from Friday onward and strongly advising against venturing off marked runs. Their guidance was clear: under Level 4 conditions, “the passage of a single skier can trigger large-scale avalanches.” Authorities recommended that skiers and snowboarders avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees, hire trained guides, and always carry avalanche safety equipment such as transceivers, shovels, and probes.
Yet, as the weekend’s events demonstrated, many ignored these warnings. Rescue professionals expressed exasperation at the number of skiers heading into the backcountry without essential gear or adequate knowledge. “Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and caution,” emphasized the Swiss Institute for Snow & Avalanche Research.
In total, at least six people lost their lives in avalanches in the French Alps over the weekend: three on Saturday and three on Sunday. The victims included French nationals and a British man, with incidents spanning Val d’Isère, Arêches-Beaufort, La Plagne, Courchevel, Vallorcine, Orelle, and Tignes. Several others were injured, some seriously, and the full toll of the weekend’s avalanches may not yet be known as authorities continue to assess the aftermath.
For those who stayed on the marked runs, the heavy snow eventually gave way to excellent skiing conditions as the storm moved on. But for the families of the victims and the wider Alpine community, the weekend was a sobering reminder of nature’s power and the importance of heeding expert warnings. As PlanetSKI put it, “We urge everyone out skiing to obey all the rules and advice, and if skiing off piste take all the correct safety equipment and know how to use it.”
The avalanche risk was downgraded to Level 3—still considered “considerable”—on Monday, January 12, 2026. Experts note that more avalanche fatalities occur at Level 3 than at any other risk level, as the perceived danger may lull some into a false sense of security. With fresh snow resting on an unstable base and high winds creating hidden danger spots, the Alps remain treacherous for the unwary.
As the region recovers from this deadly weekend, authorities and rescue teams continue to stress caution, preparation, and respect for the mountain environment. For many, the lesson is clear: in the face of such unpredictable and powerful forces, safety must always come first.
