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Record July Heat Spurs Mont Blanc Rockfall Warnings for 2026

9/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Deputy mayor Stéphane Bozon warned record July heat accelerated Mont Blanc rockfalls.
Météo France said July average at Aiguille du Midi hit 3.3 °C, highest since 1994.
Professor Ludovic Ravanel expects about 400 major rock collapses in 2026, tenfold increase.
Guide Stuart MacDonald cancelled a climb because melting ice and rockfalls made routes unsafe.
Stéphane Bozon urged Chamonix to act quickly on scenarios of glacier or mountain chunks falling on towns.

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Story summary

Deputy mayor Stéphane Bozon warned record July heat accelerated Mont Blanc rockfalls.
Météo France said July average at Aiguille du Midi hit 3.3 °C, highest since 1994.
Professor Ludovic Ravanel expects about 400 major rock collapses in 2026, tenfold increase.
Guide Stuart MacDonald cancelled a climb because melting ice and rockfalls made routes unsafe.
Stéphane Bozon urged Chamonix to act quickly on scenarios of glacier or mountain chunks falling on towns.