140 km/h winds to hit parts of Switzerland

MeteoSwiss has issued a warning for strong winds of up to 140 kilometres per hour (km/h) across Switzerland. A level 3 weather warning is in effect across several Swiss cantons from Monday evening, February 2, until Tuesday.

Stormy weather expected across Switzerland

This week is off to a pleasant start with sunshine, blue skies and milder temperatures across most of Switzerland. However, stormy weather is coming to a number of cantons from Monday evening. Gusts of wind between 90 and 120 km/h could begin Monday evening and continue through Tuesday.

MeteoSwiss has issued a level 3 weather warning for Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserhoden, Schwyz, Glarus, Lucerne, Bern and St. Gallen, reports Blick. Graubünden, Valais and Bern have also been issued a level 2 weather warning.

Residents are advised to avoid areas with trees, where branches and uprooted trees could be dangerous, and to secure loose garden items such as furniture, trampolines or flower pots. Drivers may also experience delays on roads.

Milder temperatures are expected to remain for the rest of the week, reaching highs of around 8 degrees celsius in some parts of the country.

60 percent less snow this year in Switzerland

Schools are set to break for Sportferien (sports holiday or ski week) this month as many head to the mountains to ski or snowboard. But there’s just one problem: there’s 60 percent less snow this year than there usually is, according to Blue News.

Since December, there has been less snowfall in the Alps and the weather has been relatively dry. Even if it has snowed, “A strong foehn wind, with its dry and mild air, can destroy over 30 centimetres of snow within a single day,” according to a representative from MeteoSwiss.