Switzerland experienced some of its heaviest snowfall ever this week, with two new records set for two- and three-day snowfall totals. According to Snowbrains, the Simplon region saw 89 inches in just two days and 97 inches over three days — record totals that stood for 26 years (85 inches in 1999) and 35 years (90 inches in 1990) respectively.
While those numbers sound exciting to any powderhound, the storm that brought all that snow actually wreaked havoc on resorts across Europe. Zermatt in Switzerland and Val d’Isere in France, for example, were just two resorts that were forced to close during the extreme snowfall. Tourists and residents were told to stay indoors on Thursday due to high avalanche risk, tunnels and roads were closed to traffic in Switzerland and Italy, and thousands of homes in France were left without power. As of Thursday, at least one person was reportedly killed and another was injured in an avalanche.
Everyone impacted by the intense storm was given reprieve early Friday when a lull set in, although roads were still reportedly closed in Zermatt, Saas, and Simplon. Residents and tourists were told they could finally leave their homes, however, but were warned to stay vigilant due to harsh conditions.
