ROME -- Avalanche warnings have been issued for areas in northern Italy, with Val d'Aosta at highest risk.

 Several incidents have been reported, and footage taken, of avalanche falls hitting towns in the Alps after thick snowfall in the last week, in some places more than a metre deep. No deaths have been reported in Italy as of yet, but several mountaineers and skiers have been killed in the French Alps.

 The avalanche risk for several resorts in the Alps, and for parts of Val d'Aosta, remains at four out of five, meaning avalanches are "likely to be triggered on many slopes if only light loads are applied." It also means medium or large "spontaneous" avalanches are likely.

 The Val d'Aosta website posted on Friday that "the current dangers are related to new and recent unstable wind loads unstable for the passage of a single person."

 The avalanche warnings for the weekend remain at 3 out of 5 in the areas closer to the French border, and 2 out of 5 further inwards.   ft