Snow and avalanche climates in the French Alps using avalanche problem frequencies

Abstract Avalanches result from an interaction of weather and terrain, where past internal snow cover processes play important roles. So far, climatology was mainly based on data, as regional instability information, such avalanche activity, is scarce climatological time scales. We present a new approach to create simulations problem types reanalysis data cluster analysis. Analyzing the winters between 1958 2020 in French Alps, wet-snow situations dominated natural release. Dry-snow with non-persistent persistent weak layers occurred each at least one third days. Four typical patterns were identified. They follow main orography more northern regions cases inner-Alpine regions. In front-ranges southern early winter – for coastal climates. Agreement standard climate classification geography Alps suggests that mountain similar conditions can now be outlined. This method will inform forecasting facilitate change impact studies.