Alps hit by ‘once-in-a-generation’ snow storms

Image credit: Andrew Holt

Parts of the Alps have seen a return to 1978 weather conditions according to this report, with some places only accessible by helicopter.

Hundreds of roads across the Alps in France, Italy and Switzerland were closed, cutting off resorts and villages, after the kind of snowfall that only comes once every 30 years, as Euronews reports.

Tens of thousands of people have been stranded across the Alps after ‘once-in-a-generation’ weather dumped almost 2 meters of snow on some ski resorts in less than 48 hours.

Schools and nurseries have been closed and roads cut off after the Savoie department in France was placed on red alert – the highest warning for avalanches.

Tignes and Val d’Isere have been in lockdown with tourists and residents confined to the area.

Météo France, the weather forecaster, said that similar conditions had occurred only once in 30 years.

Preventative releases of avalanches will be set in motion as soon as the helicopters can take off, local authorities have said.

“We really recommend that people stay at home, the avalanche risk is high, these are conditions that we’ve not seen since 1978”, said Captain Hélène Delas, a fire fighter in Savoie Department.

Devastation was narrowly avoided this morning in Chamonix when a huge avalanche swept down a mountainside near Les Houches hitting 40 chalets, although barriers took the brunt of the impact.

Continued here.