Val d'Isère Avalanche Kills Three Skiers as Storm Nils Batters the French Alps

Three skiers have been killed after an avalanche struck the Manchet valley near Val d'Isère in the French Alps on Friday, 13 February 2026.

The victims — two British nationals and one French citizen — were caught in the slide during a period of severe weather that had already put much of the Savoie region on high alert.

A group of five skiers, including the two British victims, had been skiing off-piste with an instructor at the time. All five were swept up in the avalanche. The instructor survived unharmed and later tested negative for alcohol and drugs. A fifth member of the group sustained minor injuries.

The French victim was killed separately, struck while skiing alone at around 11:30am local time.

A witness at the scene, Antoine Martignon, described watching the slide unfold: "I was watching people free riding and skiing off-piste, and thought it looks very dangerous. In 20 seconds, there was an avalanche, it went down and took people below."

Avalanche Risk Was Rated 4 Out of 5

Val d'Isère resort management confirmed the avalanche danger rating at the time was 4 out of 5 — a level considered "high" under the European Avalanche Danger Scale. In a statement, the resort said: "An investigation is underway. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. The avalanche risk was 4/5. We recommend that skiers stay in the secure, marked areas of the ski resort."

To put that in context, a rating of 4 means triggering is likely on steep terrain, including from a single skier. Off-piste skiing in those conditions is a serious decision, and one that clearly had fatal consequences here.

Storm Nils Triggered Widespread Closures

The avalanche didn't happen in a vacuum. Storm Nils had swept through the region in the days prior, prompting France's national weather service, Météo-France, to issue a red alert for Savoie. Several resorts had already closed all or part of their pistes in response.

Météo-France described the storm as generating "exceptional avalanche activity," noting strong winds had battered the Gulf of Lion and Corsica before the system tracked further inland.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed it had been made aware of the British victims and was ready to offer consular assistance to affected families.

Albertville prosecutor Benoît Bachelet confirmed a manslaughter investigation has been launched — a standard procedure in France following fatal mountain incidents of this nature.

Part of a Broader Pattern This Season

This incident follows a similarly grim few days in northern Italy, where three skiers were also killed in separate avalanches in the Trentino Alto Adige and Lombardy regions — areas close to where the 2026 Winter Olympics are currently underway.

It's a pointed reminder that mountain terrain doesn't care about the calendar. When storm systems of this scale move through the Alps, the risk ramps up fast — and the gap between "adventurous" and "fatal" closes considerably. If you're planning to ski off-piste in Europe this season, checking the local avalanche bulletin before you clip in isn't optional — it's the bare minimum.