TL;DR
A powerful late-season snowstorm has shut down ski areas and major transport routes in southern Switzerland and northern Italy, raising avalanche risks to maximum levels and isolating mountain communities.
Late-Season Snowstorm Disrupts Swiss Alps
A significant late-season snowstorm has hit southern Switzerland and northern Italy, causing widespread disruptions. The storm has forced the closure of ski resorts, cut off mountain towns, and raised avalanche risks to their highest levels. Heavy snowfall and rain have led to the shutdown of major transport routes, leaving several communities isolated and without power.
The storm's impact has been severe, with over a metre of new snow reported in parts of Valais. Authorities have closed crucial road and rail connections, including the Simplon Pass and Grand St-Bernard Pass linking Switzerland and Italy. Towns like Zermatt, Simplon Dorf, and Gondo have become inaccessible, with rail services suspended and replacement buses unable to reach them.
The avalanche risk has been raised to level 5 - the maximum - across several regions including Upper Valais, Saas Valley, and the Simplon region. The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research has warned of the potential for numerous large avalanches at higher altitudes and wet snow avalanches at lower elevations. Flooding alerts have also been issued for the Rhône and its tributaries, with warnings of rising water levels, debris flows, and landslides.
