"Avalanches are to be feared throughout the Alps because snow has fallen on underlying layers that are unstable and do not hold together well," the avalanche forecast centre in Grenoble said, adding that strong winds were adding to the risk.

Weather officials said the snow in the northern French Alps was now up to 40 centimetres (more than one foot) thick, while snow in the southern French Alps was up to one metre (more than three feet) deep.

Meteo France weather forecasters said the expected return of sunny weather on Sunday meant there was a serious risk of avalanches because of the instability of the snow cover.

Earlier on Saturday rescue workers found a body in an avalanche in the Haute-Savoie region. They said it had not yet been identified but was thought to be that of a 20-year-old policeman who had disappeared while cross-country skiing on Thursday.

A 27-year-old British man was hospitalised on Saturday after being buried by an avalanche while snowboarding off-piste above the resort of Tignes in the Savoie region.

On Thursday a 44-year-old cross-country skiier died in hospital after being rescued from an avalanche in the Hautes Alpes region.

Last winter 26 people died in avalanches in France.

TERRA.WIRE