Snow avalanches struck northern Italy and south-eastern France between February 7–8, 2026, killing at least 11 people across multiple Alpine locations. Italian authorities reported several fatalities in Trentino–Alto Adige and Lombardy, while French media confirmed deaths in the Hautes-Alpes. The incidents occurred during a period of elevated avalanche danger following recent snowfall and wind loading.
Snow avalanches between February 7 and 8 across the Alpine regions of Italy and France resulted in at least 11 fatalities, according to the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).
In Italy, multiple avalanche incidents were reported in Trentino–Alto Adige and Lombardy. Reuters confirmed that at least three off-piste skiers were killed on February 7 in separate avalanches in northern Italy. Italian Alpine rescue services conducted several emergency operations during the period and urged caution in backcountry terrain due to unstable snow conditions.
Italian authorities attributed the incidents to fresh snowfall combined with wind redistribution, which created unstable slabs on steep slopes. Rescue officials warned that even small additional loads could trigger avalanches in affected sectors of the Italian Alps.
In France, at least two fatalities were confirmed near Saint-Véran in the Hautes-Alpes department after a large avalanche struck high-elevation terrain. French mountain rescue teams responded to the incident during a period of heightened avalanche risk in several Alpine massifs.
Media reports indicated that parts of the French Alps were under high to very high avalanche danger ratings at the time of the incidents. Some ski areas restricted access to exposed sectors as a precautionary measure.
The avalanche cycle occurred during mid-winter conditions typical for early February in the Alps, when snowpack stratification and persistent weak layers can increase instability following new snowfall. February is historically among the months with frequent avalanche activity across the Alpine arc due to accumulated seasonal snow and recurrent winter storm systems.
As of February 10, the ERCC reported that no additional severe weather systems were forecast for south-eastern France or northern and north-eastern Italy over the subsequent 48 hours. Authorities continued to advise caution in unpatrolled or off-piste terrain.
References:
1 Italy, France – Snow avalanches – ECHO – February 10, 2026