Snow falling, blowing at night, 1,100 metres in Valais, Switzerland
Blowing snow, Valais, Switzerland 21 December 2009
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Winter arrived in Switzerland 21 December with a screech of cold air accompanied by howling winds and snow in many areas. By Tuesday noon temperatures had risen, but the country remains blanketed in white.
Switzerland suffered fewer accidents and other weather-related problems Sunday and Monday, compared to many areas in Europe, partly thanks to the warm foehn in mountainous regions. Strong winds whipped up but also melted some of the snow. The highest winds were recorded at the Diablerets glacier, 145.4kph, reports TSR.
Forecast from the national weather service, MeteoSwiss: clouds and snow alternating for the next few days, throughout the Jura, Lake Geneva and Swiss Alps region. The snow line will rise and fall between 400 and 1,500, with snow down to the plain at times in Valais. Temperature highs, 4-9C on the plain, 2-4C in Valais, with +1C at 2,000m. Colder as the week wears on, but some Alpine valleys will be warmed by foehn winds, which will be strong at times this week.
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News story, GenevaLunch, 22 December 2009.
Filed under: Society
Tags: Christmas, Jura, Lake Geneva area, Switzerland, Valais, Vaud, weather, winter