Extreme rainfall causes catastrophic flooding in western Germany

Extreme rainfall causes catastrophic flooding in western Germany

At least 18 people have died and many more are still missing after exceptionally heavy rain caused massive flooding in western Germany on July 14 and 15, 2021. Numerous rivers across the region are still above flood stage or at exceptionally high levels and several…

Switzerland sees record November snowfall, almost 710 mm (28 inches) recorded

Switzerland sees record November snowfall, almost 710 mm (28 inches) recorded

Heavy snow hit parts of Switzerland over the weekend, November 16 and 17, 2017, bringing the monthly total up to 710 mm (28 inches) in Santa Maria, in the country's east. This broke the previous record of 690 mm (27 inches), also set in the same area in 1959….

Two missing after violent storm, large mudslide hit Swiss Alps

Two missing after violent storm, large mudslide hit Swiss Alps

Two people, a 37-year-old man and a 6-year-old girl, are missing after a fast-moving mudslide hit Switzerland's Valais canton on Sunday night, August 11, 2019. The event took place late Sunday after a violent hit the region, causing the Losentze river to…

Key highway closed after severe storm hits Switzerland

Key highway closed after severe storm hits Switzerland

Heavy rain affecting Switzerland since June 9, 2019, caused a temporary shutdown of a key highway in the central region of Gotthard. A landslide has also affected the railway connections. The regions of Bern and Zurich have been particularly affected, receiving…

Record May snowfall in Switzerland

Record May snowfall in Switzerland

Historic Arctic blast affecting much of Europe over the past couple of days brought record amounts of snowfall for the month of May to parts of Switzerland. Capital Bern received 4 cm (1.57 inches) of snow on May 5, breaking the previous record for the month set…

Unexpected snowstorm kills 6 hikers, seriously injures 5, Swiss Alps

Unexpected snowstorm kills 6 hikers, seriously injures 5, Swiss Alps

An unexpected snowstorm hit Swiss Alps on Sunday, April 29, 2018, trapping at least 14 people in the Pigne d'Arolla area and forcing them to spend the night outdoors in the high winds and snow. The police in Valais, southwestern Switzerland said it launched a…

Switzerland experienced driest December since 1864

Switzerland experienced driest December since 1864

With an average of just 2 mm (0.079 inches) of precipitation, the Swiss lowlands (from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance) experienced their driest December since records began in 1864. In the region's west, there was no precipitation at all. "In the long-term…