Not only Austria is currently affected by storms. In Switzerland, heavy rainfall resulted in flooded areas, closed roads and pollution of drinking water. In addition, the onset of winter in the Alps was recorded, which closed several passes.
According to the authorities, the Alpine passes of Furka, Susten, Grimsel, Gotthard, Simplon and Nufenen remained closed on Monday. In many mountain areas such as Zermatt, the first snow fell, the snow line was below 2000 meters. At higher altitudes, up to 60 centimeters of fresh snow was expected on Monday evening – even though it was still a maximum of 38 degrees Celsius last week, according to the Swiss media. On Monday, the Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), among others, posted a photo of the Kleine Scheidegg Pass.
Here’s a photo of the beginning of winter on X (formerly Twitter).
valleys cut off
According to the Graubünden Cantonal Police, the Splügen Pass and the Umbrail Pass were also blocked due to mudslides and for security reasons. Part of the Averstal was still closed off from the environment by a mudslide. Even sparsely populated Val S-Charl could not be reached by land. As of Monday afternoon, no more damage reports have been received by the cantonal police.
Ticino, the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, has been ravaged by storms since Friday evening. According to the Federal Bureau of Meteorology and Climatology (Meteoswiss), 380 liters of rain per square meter fell in Biasca within 48 hours on Monday, the highest amount ever recorded. The severe weather warning has since been withdrawn, but the drinking water is still microbiologically contaminated in several areas.
In other places in Switzerland, a campsite was flooded and rail traffic was interrupted after landslides. No populated areas were affected in neighboring Vorarlberg. On Monday evening, emergency services had the situation under control.
Source: Krone
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