Heavy snow has blocked Alpine resorts in Switzerland and France, forcing tourists and residents to stay indoors. In the French resort of Tignes, more than a metre of snow was dumped over the town, causing a high risk of avalanches and leaving thousands without power. Neighboring Switzerland’s Simplon Pass into Italy and the Great St Bernard Tunnel were also closed due to heavy snow.
Similar disruptions were reported in neighboring regions. Schools were closed in Sion, and locals advised to delay their trips until Saturday. The Alertswiss app warned of the risk of avalanches and falling trees.
South of Zermatt, power outages affected 37 out of 74 municipalities in north-west Italy, while a bridge collapsed in nearby Piedmont. Heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks, resulting in flooding and damage. A 92-year-old man was thought to have drowned due to the flooding in his home.
Residents described days of non-stop heavy rain and extreme weather conditions. The situation is expected to worsen with river levels predicted to peak in the next 24 hours.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8gzvv47kjo