Authorities noted a significant risk of avalanches in the Alps in cantons Vaud, Bern, parts of the Valais and Ticino, and for parts of Central Switzerland and canton Graubünden.
Keystone / Urs Flueeler
On Saturday, the federal authorities declared a significant risk of heavy snowfall across large parts of the Alps. For parts of Ticino, southern Switzerland, the hazard level was raised to 4, or high.
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According to the government’s natural hazards assessment, this means that disruptions and an increased risk of accidents are to be expected in air and rail transport. This is due, for example, to snow drifts. Branches may also snap under the weight of the snow, or trees may topple.
Hazard level 3 (“significant”) means, among other things, that road conditions may deteriorate significantly.
Above 1,400 metres, five to 15 centimetres of fresh snow fell in Ticino and the Simplon region, according to the natural hazards bulletin issued by the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) on Saturday. In most other regions, snowfall was still light by Saturday afternoon.
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During the most intense phase, the snow line could temporarily drop to 500 metres. In the Locarno area, the Maggia and Verzasca valleys, and the Leventina, up to 90 centimetres of fresh snow was expected above 1,600 metres.
The government’s natural hazards portal also indicated on Saturday a significant risk of avalanches in the Alps in cantons Vaud, Bern, parts of the Valais and Ticino. The same level of risk is also being flagged for parts of Central Switzerland and the canton of Graubünden.
Translated from German with AI/gw
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