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Roads closed and planes grounded as 'record-breaking' storms sweep Switzerland

The Local
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Roads closed and planes grounded as 'record-breaking' storms sweep Switzerland
(Illustration) A man stands on rocks as lightning strikes over Lake Geneva on August 6, 2019 near Le Bouveret, western Switzerland. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Officials say that the worst is over in Switzerland after much of the country was ravaged by a storm which cancelled flights and trains as well as caused damage across the country.

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During the night from Monday to Tuesday, several roads were closed including sections of the A1 and A2 motorways due to fallen trees. 

The SBB reported that rail services were also interrupted, including the now restored service between Court and Moutier in Bern and the Gotthard railway line between Airolo and Erstfeld. 

READ: Flights cancelled as Storm Ciara hits Switzerland 

While the line between Winterthur and Rüti in the Zurich Highlands remains subject to delays and interruptions, rail services across the country have been largely restored on Tuesday. 

One person, a man aged 36, has died so far in the storms while a further three have been hospitalised due to injuries. 

Several schools are closed in the areas of Uster, Hinwil, Lachen and Jonschwil, while 180 flights out of Basel and 30 out of Geneva have been cancelled. 

Officials are still warning Swiss residents to avoid walking through forested areas as winds remain high. 

 

 

A ‘record-breaking winter’

The winter of 2019-20 also looks set to break a number of dubious records, including being the warmest winter on record - with temperatures currently 2.5 degrees higher than the winter of 2006–07, which holds the record. 

High-speed wind records across the country have also been broken. 

Zurich residents have still not seen snow. If this remains the case by Wednesday, February 12th, it will be the latest in the season that snow has fallen in Switzerland’s largest canton. 

 

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