As heavy snow blanketed the Alps, Easter holiday travelers faced severe challenges including transportation halts, power outages, and avalanche risks.
Heavy Snow and Flooding Disrupt Easter Holidays in the Alps
Heavy Snow and Flooding Disrupt Easter Holidays in the Alps
Severe weather conditions have left tourists stranded and caused significant disruptions across Alpine resorts in Switzerland and France.
Amid heavy snowfall, both the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt and the French resort of Tignes experienced significant disruptions on Thursday, forcing residents and tourists to stay indoors. Tignes' Mayor Serge Revial noted the substantial avalanche risk amidst over a meter of snow accumulation. The timing coincided with the Easter holiday, traditionally a peak period for Alpine tourism, and left many areas in eastern France’s Savoie region without power.
In Switzerland, critical access routes including the Simplon Pass and Great St Bernard Tunnel were closed, affecting traffic into popular destinations. The impact was felt in the Valais and Bernese Oberland regions, where ski-bound tourists found their paths obstructed. In Zermatt, the only operational supermarket created long lines as power outages limited service and mobile phone networks suffered significant disruptions. The Alertswiss app alerted residents of the dangers posed by potential avalanches and falling trees, prompting the closure of schools in Sion.
Meanwhile, the Aosta Valley in north-west Italy reported power loss in numerous municipalities, with a bridge collapse registered in the Biella area due to the severe weather. It was rainy rather than snowy south of the Swiss border, as incessant rainfall led to rivers overflowing and caused flooding, reportedly drowning a 92-year-old man in his home near Turin. Residents faced rising river levels in several valleys, with meteorologists recording over 20cm of rain in just 36 hours in some locations.
The situation in Turin remains critical, although the rain subsided temporarily. Some local establishments by the River Po were mandated to close as a precaution. Residents are urged to remain cautious as emergency alerts are issued across the region.
In Switzerland, critical access routes including the Simplon Pass and Great St Bernard Tunnel were closed, affecting traffic into popular destinations. The impact was felt in the Valais and Bernese Oberland regions, where ski-bound tourists found their paths obstructed. In Zermatt, the only operational supermarket created long lines as power outages limited service and mobile phone networks suffered significant disruptions. The Alertswiss app alerted residents of the dangers posed by potential avalanches and falling trees, prompting the closure of schools in Sion.
Meanwhile, the Aosta Valley in north-west Italy reported power loss in numerous municipalities, with a bridge collapse registered in the Biella area due to the severe weather. It was rainy rather than snowy south of the Swiss border, as incessant rainfall led to rivers overflowing and caused flooding, reportedly drowning a 92-year-old man in his home near Turin. Residents faced rising river levels in several valleys, with meteorologists recording over 20cm of rain in just 36 hours in some locations.
The situation in Turin remains critical, although the rain subsided temporarily. Some local establishments by the River Po were mandated to close as a precaution. Residents are urged to remain cautious as emergency alerts are issued across the region.
