From snow to 20 degrees in erratic weather weekend
Switzerland received its first snowfall of the season at lower altitude on Sunday, as a depression coming from the North Sea brought snow across much of the country down to 700 metres.
In the Graubünden, the white stuff even fell as low as 200 metres altitude, with the area blanketed by 30-40 centimetres on Sunday night, a spokesperson for Meteo News told news agency ATS.
The conditions proved hazardous for drivers, with two women having a lucky escape after their car came off the snowy road and rolled down a slope. They were only slightly injured, said Graubünden police.
Photo: Graubünden police
Earlier in the weekend the depression had brought torrential rain and hail to parts of the country including the cantons of Vaud and Valais, with 106 mm of rain recorded in Clusanfe in the Valais.
However it was a different story in the centre and east of the country as the foehn wind brought warmer wind, with temperatures in parts of the canton of St Gallen reaching 20 degrees.
The snow is good news for Switzerland's ski resorts as they prepare to open in the next month or so.
But snowsports fans shouldn't get their hopes up just yet.
Last year, following early snow in November, the country then endured its warmest December on record, leaving next to no snow on the slopes until after Christmas.
Early today above all this fresh #snow @switzerlandvac1 #Verbier #drone pic.twitter.com/Q4V9Y7sTZz
— Verbier (@VerbierResorts) November 6, 2016
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In the Graubünden, the white stuff even fell as low as 200 metres altitude, with the area blanketed by 30-40 centimetres on Sunday night, a spokesperson for Meteo News told news agency ATS.
The conditions proved hazardous for drivers, with two women having a lucky escape after their car came off the snowy road and rolled down a slope. They were only slightly injured, said Graubünden police.
Photo: Graubünden police
Earlier in the weekend the depression had brought torrential rain and hail to parts of the country including the cantons of Vaud and Valais, with 106 mm of rain recorded in Clusanfe in the Valais.
However it was a different story in the centre and east of the country as the foehn wind brought warmer wind, with temperatures in parts of the canton of St Gallen reaching 20 degrees.
The snow is good news for Switzerland's ski resorts as they prepare to open in the next month or so.
But snowsports fans shouldn't get their hopes up just yet.
Last year, following early snow in November, the country then endured its warmest December on record, leaving next to no snow on the slopes until after Christmas.
Early today above all this fresh #snow @switzerlandvac1 #Verbier #drone pic.twitter.com/Q4V9Y7sTZz
— Verbier (@VerbierResorts) November 6, 2016
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