Alpine ski resorts were getting back to normal on Friday, April 18, 2025, after spring storms the previous day claimed four victims in the French Alps and northern Italy, including a British holidaymaker. The 27-year-old Briton was caught in an avalanche at the entrance to the French Alpine resort of Val Thorens in Savoie, after heavy snowfall across the mountain range. Found in a state of cardiac arrest, he was taken to Grenoble for treatment but died that evening, local prosecutor Benoit Bachelet said in a statement Friday.
Three people died in northern Italy on Thursday, April 17, 2025, due to heavy rains. A 64-year-old and his 33-year-old son were carried away in their car by floodwaters in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. Additionally, a man in his 90s was found dead in his flooded home in the northwest region of Piedmont. "Intense and abundant" rain had drenched the north of Italy, turning to snow above 1,800 metres (5,905 feet) altitude, an official stated.
The storms not only caused fatalities but also shut roads, halted trains, and cut power to areas in France, Italy, and Switzerland. More than 3,300 homes in France and 5,000 households in Italy were left without power, according to authorities. Heavy trucks were banned from using the main Mont Blanc tunnel between France and Italy, and dozens were stuck on the A43 highway linking the two countries.
After heavy snowfall on Thursday, France's national weather service Météo-France issued an orange alert for avalanches in the Savoie département for Friday. The orange alert is the 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.
The large quantities of recent snow were expected to start melting as temperatures rose and the sun returned 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," the forecaster noted. Locally, these avalanches could reach infrastructures or roads that are usually exposed.
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 reported. Several French ski resorts, including Tignes, were closed due to the severe weather conditions. The mayor of Tignes, Serge Revial, told Franceinfo on Friday that, "the situation is slowly returning to normal," after residents and visitors were confined to their homes and hotels because of heavy snowfall and the risk of avalanches.
Restrictions had been in place ‘until further notice,’ with travel within the same neighborhood 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 explained.
What about skiing on Friday? Revial added that the ski area would be partially reopened, but "under no circumstances should one go off-piste," due to the avalanche risk. “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,” he advised.
Corentin Hassmann, commander of the Savoie high mountain gendarmerie platoon, echoed Revial’s warning about the dangers, despite the return of more pleasant conditions. “Mountain enthusiasts will have to be extra vigilant,” he said, urging skiers and residents to “[stay] in secure areas” and heed the advice of officials. The avalanche risk remains ‘high’ at all altitudes, which Hassmann noted was “surprising at this time of year.”
The sheer volume of snow, with more than a metre falling in just a few hours on Thursday, took authorities and residents by surprise, leading to widespread chaos and road closures. A hotel employee in Tignes, who declined to give his full name, expressed concern, saying, “Cars are covered up to the roof... Just walking outside is worrying.”
Yann Geaudry, a retired cross-country ski instructor in the French village of Termignon, also voiced worries about the risk of floods when the snow melts in the spring sunshine. “In such a short time, this is an enormous amount,” he remarked.
In neighbouring Italy, the storms wreaked havoc, leading to the deaths of three individuals, including a father and son who had volunteered to help with rescue efforts. The situation was dire as heavy rains caused widespread flooding, exacerbating the already precarious conditions in the region.
As the weather began to clear, residents and officials alike breathed a sigh of relief, albeit cautiously. Didier Beauchet, a retiree who has lived in Lanslebourg for 40 years, remarked, “It’s truly exceptional. I must have seen that only five times,” as motorists around him worked to free their snow-covered cars.
While the immediate dangers seem to be subsiding, the aftermath of the storms leaves a lasting impact on the communities in the Alps. The combination of heavy snow and rain has not only claimed lives but has also disrupted normal life in these picturesque regions, reminding everyone of the power of nature and the need for vigilance in the face of such extreme weather.
