The weather chaos in the Swiss and Italian Alps is worsening, particularly affecting the municipality of Zermatt. Heavy rainfall has led to several road closures in northern Italy, including a highway, as authorities brace for storms, floods, and landslides. Train service has been suspended on the Simplon line, a major rail connection between Italy and Switzerland, due to flooded tracks.
In Switzerland, weather warnings were issued for the southern cantons of Wallis and Tessin, with parts of Canton Wallis experiencing heavy snowfall. Alertswiss has warned of heavy rainfall in the Saastal and Mattertal, where a train connection to Zermatt is located. On Thursday morning, April 17, 2025, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn announced that there was no travel possible to or from Zermatt due to the interruption of the route between Visp and Zermatt.
The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) advised customers traveling from Basel to Milan to detour via Zurich-Milan, with the initial interruption expected to last until 6:00 AM on Thursday morning. However, due to the ongoing severe weather conditions, it remains unclear when rail services will resume.
Reports from the news portal 20minuten.ch indicate that power outages have affected numerous towns, including Zermatt, which is currently shrouded in darkness. The access road Täsch-Zermatt is closed in both directions due to avalanche danger, rendering the area completely cut off. Two tourists from the USA were reportedly locked out of their hotels due to the power outage affecting electronic key codes and were left waiting at the Zermatt train station.
Aside from a few shops on Bahnhofstrasse that are being powered by generators, Zermatt is entirely dark, with numerous other municipalities affected, including Kandersteg, Adelboden, and the Simmental. In Italy, regions that typically welcome tourists over the Easter holiday, such as South Tyrol, Piedmont, and Lombardy (including Milan), are also experiencing disruptions.
In the town of Pinerolo, located about 60 kilometers from Turin, local authorities advised residents to stay home as two bridges were closed due to a river threatening to overflow. The situation remains critical, with heavy precipitation expected to continue in the Upper Valais until Thursday evening.
The canton of Wallis is particularly hard hit, with roads to Zermatt and Leukerbad closed due to severe snowfall. MeteoSchweiz had already issued a severe weather warning, with levels four and five for the affected areas on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The forecast predicts continued heavy precipitation, especially in the southern Simplon region and the Saastal.
The Touring Club Switzerland has reported multiple road closures, including the Täsch-Zermatt access road, which is closed in both directions due to avalanche danger. Other closures include the main road Visp-Saas Fee, the cantonal road Saas Grund-Saas Almagell, and the main road Stalden-Täsch, all closed due to snowfall. The H9 Visp-Brig road is also closed in both directions due to snowfall, and the main road Brig-Andermatt has snow-covered roads in both directions, requiring snow chains for vehicles.
As a result of these weather conditions, schools in many areas of Wallis, including Visp, Brig, and Naters, have been closed on Thursday, April 17, 2025, allowing students to start their long weekend early.
While the situation remains dire, there is a glimmer of hope as transit routes for travelers have begun to reopen. The Plöcken Pass on the Austrian-Italian border has been repaired and is now open after a rockslide, providing some relief for those looking to navigate the treacherous weather conditions.
Tourists in Zermatt are left stranded, with little information on when they might be able to leave. The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn has confirmed that there are currently no travel options available to or from the iconic resort town. The authorities are urging residents and visitors to stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
As the weather chaos continues to unfold, the situation in the Swiss and Italian Alps remains precarious. Authorities are closely monitoring the conditions and are prepared to respond to any emergencies that may arise as the storm progresses. With many areas experiencing power outages and blocked access roads, the impact of this severe weather event is being felt far and wide.
In the face of such challenges, the resilience of the local communities is being tested. As the situation develops, updates from meteorological services and local authorities will be crucial in keeping residents and visitors informed about the ongoing weather conditions and travel advisories.
