The first avalanche death of the season occurred over the weekend above the town of Chamois in the Aosta Valley in Italy.
It is being reported that a French couple were skiing off piste at 2,500m above the town when the man was swept 70m to his death by a slide. He was found by rescuers more than 6 feet below the snow.
It is believed to be the first avalanche fatality of the 2018/19 season.
Avalanche conditions in parts of the Alps is currently rated to be considerable due to a large storm that dropped snow on what was a very thin snowpack.
On Tuesday four people were swept away by two separate avalanches in the French resort of Val d’Isere and another avalanche was triggered in Les3Vallees. Â Fortunately all survived.