Ticker on the onset of winter Federal government warns of risk of black ice on roads +++ Bus route in Zurich temporarily suspended due to icy conditions

Philipp Dahm

23.11.2024

Whether sun or rain, snow or storm: the weather in Switzerland is constantly changing. The developments in the ticker.

23.11.2024, 13:42

23.11.2024, 13:43

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1.42 pm

SBB: Only isolated delays now

The operational situation at SBB has largely returned to normal following the heavy, exceptional snowfall. The snow clearing and switch cleaning teams have been working non-stop. According to SBB, delays are still to be expected in isolated cases. The disruption to customer information in the online timetable and via the SBB app due to the numerous inquiries has also been resolved.

10.53 a.m.

Zurich bus services temporarily restricted due to icy conditions

The icy winter weather has led to restrictions on bus services in the city of Zurich. On Saturday morning, Zurich's public transport company announced that two bus routes had been suspended until further notice due to icy conditions. Bus route 39 is now running again, bus route 73 is still suspended.

10.40 a.m.

Swiss Post pick-up and delivery services are running normally again

After the delays caused by the heavy snowfall, Swiss Post's operations are back to normal. All shipments were able to be carried out again on Saturday, Swiss Post announced.

The delivery staff were also able to carry out their rounds again as normal, it added. The snowfall of the past few days had also taken its toll on Swiss Post. Due to the sometimes precarious conditions, it was unable to guarantee all collection and delivery services on Friday.

Customers therefore had to expect delays, it said. All regions in Switzerland were affected. However, operations on the PostBus routes had already returned to normal on Friday.

9.50 a.m.

Bus and streetcar services back to normal in Basel

Bus and streetcar services in Basel returned to normal on Saturday night. All lines were running regularly again, Basel's public transport company announced on Saturday morning.

While on Thursday evening the main cause was roads and lines blocked by cars and branches, on Friday it was mainly parts of the overhead line covered in snow and ice that prevented a rapid resumption of services, as the Basel public transport company (BVB) also reported.

Thanks to the efforts of various people, the last streetcar lines were also able to resume regular service late on Friday evening. The Basel bus network was able to gradually resume operations on Friday morning.

09.18 a.m.

Federal government warns: There is currently a risk of black ice here

It's icy on the roads. According to Meteo Switzerland, the danger level for practically the entire country is 2, which means: moderate danger.

Meteo Switzerland writes: "The dangers of slippery roads are sudden danger of slipping, disruption of road and air traffic, obstruction of rail traffic, branches breaking off under the weight of the ice and falling trees."

According to Meteo Switzerland, almost the entire country is in danger level 2.
Screenshot MeteoSchweiz

8.45 a.m.

Bern streetcars gradually resume operation

The streetcars in the city of Bern are gradually resuming service. Two lines have been running as usual since Saturday morning, and two more should follow in the course of the morning.

The situation is different for two other lines. The Bahnhof-Fischermätteli section of line 6 and the Bahnhof-Saali connection of line 8 are expected to remain closed until Sunday, said Rolf Meyer from the Bernmobil transport company on Saturday when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.

The heavy snowfall had put the streetcars out of action since Thursday evening. On Friday, they had to remain in the depot due to the large amounts of ice and snow. Replacement buses were in operation. Customers had to be patient.

The clearing work was more time-consuming than expected because a lot of snow had been pressed into the points. Branches had also damaged the overhead lines.

November 23, 2024, 7.08 a.m.

The sun comes out on Saturday morning

The heavy snow is probably over, according to weather forecasts. Saturday should be quite sunny at first, with occasional fog. Local patches of fog may still occur in the lowlands. Later, the clouds are expected to thicken again, according to Meteo News.

The weather situation on Saturday morning.
Meteo News

Residual clouds are also expected in eastern Switzerland. During the course of the day, increasingly dense, medium-high and high cloud will move in from the west, affecting all regions.

It should get warmer again on Sunday. According to initial forecasts, temperatures of up to 13 degrees are possible, writes Meteo News.

6.34 pm

In Basel, public transport on streetcars and buses remains largely suspended

Public transport on streetcars and buses is also largely suspended in Basel. "The reason for this is the large amount of snow. The duration is undetermined", Basel's public transport company announced on its website.

SBB recorded several thousand delays, compared to around 800 on a normal day. Lea Meyer, head of disruption management, said this in an interview with Tamedia. There were only a few cancellations.

16.49 hrs

Bern streetcars remain in the depot until Saturday

Due to the precarious snow conditions, almost all Bern streetcars will have to remain in the depot until Saturday. Only between Worb and Bern Bahnhof were streetcars on line 6 able to run again on Friday.

The other lines should have resumed service at 5 pm. This did not happen. Due to large amounts of ice and snow on the tracks, operations were suspended until the end of the day, Rolf Meyer from the Bernmobil transport company told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

Replacement buses have been organized. However, waiting times were to be expected. The bus network had slowly picked up speed again on Friday morning. By early afternoon, all bus routes were back in operation

3.46 pm

Waking up white in the canton of Aargau

Early morning view from the roof window at home in Abtwil AG.
zvg

A blue News reader shows her view from the roof window in Abtwil AG.

15.22 a.m.

Dreamlike atmosphere on the Pilatus

Dreamlike atmosphere on Mount Pilatus.
blue News Leserreporter

blue News reader reporters also enjoy the snow at the foot of Mount Pilatus, as this photo shows.

3.17 p.m.

The layer of snow is getting thicker and thicker

Thick layer of snow on the garden table in Aristau AG
blue News Leserreporter

It's snowing heavily again on Friday afternoon. The garden table of a blue News reader in Aristau AG has now completely disappeared under a thick, white blanket.

2.22 pm

Drone video shows dream landscape

Switzerland is covered in a thick blanket of snow on Friday. The views from above are particularly beautiful, as the video by blue employee Emanuel Schwarz shows. It was taken in Frauenfeld TG.

2.03 p.m.

Swiss Post can no longer guarantee delivery service

The persistent snow conditions also have consequences for Swiss Post. Due to the sometimes precarious conditions, not all collection and delivery services can currently be guaranteed, it announced on Friday.

Customers must therefore expect delays, according to the press release, and all regions in Switzerland are affected. However, operations on the Postbus routes have already returned to normal.

1.30 p.m.

Now it's snowing again

It is unlikely to snow quite as heavily as on Thursday.
blue News Leserreporter

The next snow front is slowly approaching. It is currently snowing again in the Zurich region and also over Bern. According to Meteonews, 2 to 10 centimetres of fresh snow is expected in the afternoon.

1.05 pm

Lots of snow in the border triangle

Lots of snow in Liestal BL
blue News Leserreporter

There is also a lot of snow in the border triangle near Basel. This is shown in a picture taken by a blue News reader reporter. The local transport companies are still struggling with restrictions and many streetcars are still unable to run due to the masses of snow.

12.14 pm

Bern streetcars still not running until further notice

Most of Bern's streetcars will remain in the depot for the time being due to the precarious snow conditions. Only the streetcars on line 6 are running between Worb Dorf and Bern Bahnhof. There are still restrictions on bus services.

Two bus routes were suspended on Friday afternoon, as can be seen on the Bernmobil public transport website. Service on all other lines was irregular.

All streetcar lines, with the exception of line 6, were out of service.

12.03 p.m.

Almost a hundred operations after snowfall in the canton of Fribourg

The snowfalls have also kept the police in the canton of Fribourg on their toes. Since Thursday, the patrols have carried out almost a hundred operations in collaboration with the civil engineering office and the highway maintenance service.

Several trucks, buses and other vehicles were parked across roads and on the A12 highway. This did not make it easy for the breakdown and snow clearing vehicles, according to a statement from the Fribourg cantonal police on Friday.

A number of vehicles were also traveling with inadequate winter equipment. The police recorded around 20 traffic accidents. In most cases, only material damage was caused. One person was slightly injured.

The emergency services also responded to more than a dozen incidents involving fallen trees and similar damage.

11.33 a.m.

Lots of snow in Kreuzlingen TG

Tables and benches are completely snowed in in Kreuzlingen TG.
blue News Leserreporter

There is also a lot of snow in Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance on Friday morning. This is shown in a picture taken by a blue News reader reporter. The benches and tables of a restaurant are completely covered in snow.

11.27 a.m.

Police catch suspected thieves thanks to fresh snow

The fresh snow made it easy for the Uri cantonal police to pursue two suspected thieves in Altdorf. The police patrols that were deployed only had to follow the fresh shoe tracks to catch the two men.

You can find all the information here.

11.11 a.m.

Several accidents in the canton of Glarus

Here a car lands in the bed of a stream.
Kapo Glarus

During the heavy snowfall, there were around ten traffic accidents in the canton of Glarus between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. One person was injured, otherwise there was no damage to property. According to the police, traffic was gridlocked for a long time and sometimes came to a complete standstill.

A 24-year-old female driver injured her head in an accident on the Engi bypass road, as the Glarus cantonal police reported in a statement on Friday. The intoxicated woman suffered a deep cut. The car was totaled.

The majority of the accidents occurred at speeds that were not adapted to the road conditions, the police added. Cars with summer tires were involved in two of the accidents.

After midnight, several vehicles got stuck in the snow, the police added. In Obstalden and Schwanden, one tree each toppled due to the snow load. In Niederurnen, a car lost a wheel. However, there was no accident as a result.

11.02 a.m.

The onset of winter is so beautiful

Winter is here. Numerous blue News readers send us their most beautiful pictures. Click through the gallery now.

blue News readers show their picturesThis is how beautiful the onset of winter is in Switzerland

10.36 am

Numerous new snow records in November

Due to the large amounts of snow, the winter services put in a night shift in many places to clear the roads. Record amounts of snow for the month of November fell in Lucerne with 42 centimetres (previous maximum 28 centimetres), in Glarus with 36 centimetres, in Langnau im Emmental with 30 centimetres and also in Zurich and Basel with 28 centimetres each.

There was the same amount or even more snow - although not a record amount - in Engelberg OW with 42 centimetres, in Andermatt UR with 45 centimetres and in Bosco Gurin in north-western Ticino with 58 centimetres.

In contrast, there was slightly less snow in western Switzerland. Meteorologists from MeteoSwiss also measured 25 centimetres of snow in the Vaud village of La Dôle above Lake Geneva, but "only" 21 centimetres in Sion VS, 18 centimetres in La Chaux-de-Fonds NE and 8 centimetres in Fribourg.

10.30 a.m.

Several accidents in Graubünden too

There were around ten traffic accidents on the snow-covered roads in northern Graubünden on Thursday, resulting in material damage. According to the police, there were traffic obstructions on the northern ramp of the San Bernardino route and between Tamins and Ilanz in particular due to vehicles without winter equipment.

During a braking maneuver in Sagogn, a driver left the road in his car, the cantonal police of Graubünden wrote on Friday about one of the accidents. After 30 meters, the vehicle collided with a stone in a meadow. The man was uninjured.

All accident reports on the winter chaos can be found here.

Numerous crashes in the winter chaos600 emergency calls in the canton of Lucerne alone - hundreds of accidents

10.13 a.m.

Winter wonderland in Gümligen BE

There is a thick blanket of snow in Gümligen BE.
blue News Leserreporter

Numerous blue News readers are happy about the thick blanket of snow over the country on Friday. It also snowed in Gümligen BE, as this picture shows.

9.59 a.m.

No disruptions at Zurich Airport

Zurich Airport reported no major disruptions on Friday morning. The runways were ready for the start of operations at 06:00, an airport spokesperson told Keystone-SDA. The airport's winter services had worked through the night, clearing the runways and other areas.

Numerous flights from Zurich Airport still had to be canceled early Thursday evening, according to information on the airport website.

9.20 a.m.

Dreamlike winter atmosphere

Dreamlike morning atmosphere on Lake Hallwil.
blue News Leserreporter

A dreamlike winter atmosphere prevails at Lake Hallwil in Aargau in the early morning, as pictures taken by a blue News reader show.

9.01 a.m.

Accident between military vehicle and touring car

On Friday morning, there was a traffic accident between a military vehicle and a coach on the A1 East near Kirchberg. Nine occupants of the military vehicle were injured. An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of the accident.

The Bern cantonal police received a report of a traffic accident on the A1 East near Kirchberg shortly before 2.30 a.m. on Friday. According to initial findings, a military vehicle and a coach were traveling on the A1 towards Bern when the two vehicles, which were traveling in parallel, collided sideways at Lyssach for reasons still to be clarified. Nine occupants of the military vehicle were injured, six of them slightly, and were taken to hospital by four ambulances. The occupants of the touring car were uninjured.

You can find an overview of all accidents here.

Numerous crashes in the winter chaos600 emergency calls in the canton of Lucerne alone - hundreds of accidents

8.43 a.m.

"People are out and about and in a good mood"

Like the rest of Switzerland, winter has arrived in the city of Zurich. blue News editor Bruno Bötschi was out and about early on Friday morning and shares his impressions. People are out and about, a little later than usual, but the streets are crowded. "People are in a good mood," says Bötschi.

8.35 a.m.

Snowboarders out and about in Bern

Während die Busse in Bern vor Schnee und Glätte kapitulieren müssen, nutzt ein Mann die Gunst der Stunde und fährt die Monbijoustrasse eben mit dem Snowboard hinunter. Zu unserem Schnee-Ticker: https://t.co/amZivszLRE pic.twitter.com/2i9qMLpdXK
— Berner Zeitung (@BernerZeitung) November 21, 2024

While most of the city of Bern is currently closed, a snowboarder has also taken to the streets, as a video on social media shows.

8.28 a.m.

Sunrise in Zurich

The sun is also rising over the winter wonderland in Zurich.
blue News Leserreporter

The sun is also rising in the city of Zurich, revealing a view of the winter wonderland.

8.21 a.m.

Dreamlike morning in Schaffhausen

Schaffhausen wakes up under a blanket of snow.
blue News Leserreporter

The old town of Schaffhausen also wakes up on Friday under a blanket of white. "Beautiful morning mood", writes a blue News reader about this picture.

8.15 a.m.

Winter awakening in Horgen ZH

Wintery morning atmosphere in Horgen ZH
blue News Leserreporter

The sun is slowly rising in Switzerland. There is a lot of snow in many places, such as this blue News reader in Horgen ZH. "Unfortunately, my cat didn't feel like going outside today," she writes.

8.02 a.m.

Dozens of summer tire accidents in Solothurn

Several trucks block roads in the evening and during the night.
Kapo Solothurn

The first snowfall in the lowlands has also led to numerous traffic accidents and traffic obstructions on the roads of Solothurn. No one was seriously injured.

The sometimes heavy snowfall, which began on Thursday afternoon, led to difficult road conditions, as the Solothurn cantonal police reported on Friday morning. Around 40 traffic accidents had been reported by this time. For the most part, these were accidents involving the driver or collisions between two cars.

According to the information currently available to the police, one person was slightly injured and the other collisions resulted in property damage. The police accident investigation revealed that around a dozen drivers were still driving on summer tires, according to the report.

All accident information can also be found here.

7.54 a.m.

Shovelling snow is the order of the day

Cars have to be cleared of snow on Friday morning.
blue News

Anyone who needs or wants to be on the road on Friday morning will first have to shovel snow. Switzerland is waking up under a thick blanket of white. Many drivers who have left their cars outside overnight will first have to shovel and scrape the snow off their cars.

Conditions on the roads are also precarious. You can find the overview here.

7.41 a.m.

Numerous branches broken off

Numerous branches could no longer bear the weight of the snow.
blue News

In the city of Zurich, the heavy snowfall has also affected various trees. According to a blue News reporter on site, numerous branches have broken off and are now lying on the streets or sidewalks.

7.39 a.m.

Train cancellations and delays

SBB is reporting delays and train cancellations in western and German-speaking Switzerland. A look at the map of the operating situation shows a non-dramatic picture. Further information can be found here.

SBB reports delays and train cancellations in western and German-speaking Switzerland.
sbb.ch

7.22 a.m.

Zurich's local mountain is ready for the sledgers

Early in the morning, workers in Züich are shoveling the Triemli stop on the Uetliberg cable car. Nothing stands in the way of sledging fun. Tracks show that the snow was also used extensively the previous evening.

As usual, the people in charge of the official Zurich toboggan run have placed the cushions and barriers long before the first snow.

Shovelling for the sledgers: the Uetliberg will be a hive of activity today.
blue News

7.01 a.m.

Hardly any people in Zurich

There are hardly any people out and about on Langstrasse.
blue News

The city of Zurich is unusually quiet early on Friday morning, as a blue News reporter reports from the scene. Normally, traffic on Langstrasse is jammed at this time of day. "But there are hardly any people on the road today."

First buses are running again in the city of Zurich
blue News

At least public transport is slowly starting to run again. Pictures show the first buses running. According to VBZ, the buses and streetcars are currently running without a timetable and at irregular intervals.

6.47 a.m.

Oscar the dog enjoys the winter

Oscar the dog enjoys a walk in the snow.
blue News

The heavy snowfall of the past few hours has not only caused chaos in Switzerland, but also a lot of fun. Dog Oscar enjoys an early walk through the winter wonderland in Frauenfeld TG on Friday morning.

Anton the cat accepts the snow with a mixture of "just don't get too wet" and "I don't mind at all".

He absolutely has to go out, but he'd rather go somewhere without snow.
blue News

6.30 a.m.

Bern bus service starts - and stops again immediately

There are no more buses in Bern.
blue News Leserreporter

The city of Bern actually wanted to gradually resume public transport services on Friday morning. But Bernmobil had to stop the attempt again shortly after 6.30 am. "Due to the precarious road conditions, bus services on the city network currently have to be suspended again," the transport company writes on X.

6.17 a.m.

Zurich public transport services largely resume operations

The "Zürcher Verkehrsverbund" (ZVV) resumed operations on Friday morning for the most part and in stages. Travelers should expect longer travel times, said a spokesperson at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency.

Initially, services will remain irregular on all lines due to snow and icy conditions, the spokesperson said early on Friday morning.

Lines 33 and 751 were particularly affected by the snowfall, according to a statement. VBZ advised travelers to consult the online timetable before setting off. It was initially unclear how long the restrictions would last.

VBZ had suspended bus services in the city and agglomeration on Thursday evening. The streetcar lines only ran irregularly.

5.58 a.m.

Over 120 traffic accidents after the onset of winter in the canton of St. Gallen

The onset of winter on Thursday led to over 120 traffic accidents in the canton of St. Gallen - excluding the city. Ten people were injured to varying degrees in seven accidents, as reported by the St. Gallen cantonal police on Friday morning.

Two dozen reported accidents were dealt with without the involvement of a police patrol, the St. Gallen cantonal police wrote in a press release. The main cause of the accidents was insufficient distance between the vehicles and inappropriate speed.

Some cars were found to be driving without winter tires. The road conditions were also difficult on Friday morning, warned the cantonal police.

There were also incidents because trees or branches could not withstand the snow and had to be removed from the roads. An overturned trailer also caused a two-hour closure of the A13 highway between Sargans and Trübbach early on Thursday evening, according to the St. Gallen cantonal police.

5.32 a.m.

City of Zurich and agglomeration: no buses, streetcars run irregularly

In the city of Zurich and the agglomeration, the VBZ bus network is still completely suspended due to slippery snow and ice. All streetcar lines are running at irregular intervals. This was announced by VBZ on Thursday evening; the situation has not changed.

Passengers with a "destination/departure near a city station" are advised by VBZ to use the S-Bahn.

5.23 a.m.

Bern: some buses are running - streetcars are not

In Bern, the transport companies are at least trying to get the bus lines running "as far as possible", as Bernmobil announced early this morning. Streetcars are still not running.

Guten Morgen Bern
Wir starten in den Tag, so gut es geht. Der Trambetrieb kann aktuell noch nicht aufgenommen werden. Die Buslinien versuchen wir nach Möglichkeit in Betrieb zu nehmen. Danke für eure Geduld.
— BERNMOBIL (@BERNMOBIL) November 22, 2024

5.20 a.m.

Basel: Buses partially running again - streetcars not

The Basel transport company is partially resuming bus services today. The streetcars in Basel are still not running for the time being after the onset of winter, as announced by the Basler Verkehrsbetriebe (BVB) early on Friday morning.

The reason for this is, among other things, snow-covered parts of the overhead line, as the BVB announced. It was therefore not possible to drive under the line with the pantograph.

‼️ Schrittweise Inbetriebnahme des Busnetzes – Tramnetz bleibt vorerst eingestellt ‼️

Während Busse teilweise wieder verkehren, bleibt das Tramnetz aktuell eingestellt.

Weitere Infos 👉 https://t.co/aL4nFtpfmk pic.twitter.com/sCufKxm9Ju
— Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (@BVB_BaselStadt) November 22, 2024

After the snowfall subsided after midnight, the BVB and cantonal emergency services did everything they could to at least partially resume streetcar and bus services.

However, there are still considerable disruptions and irregular services on various bus routes. Line 42 cannot be operated, according to the press release. BVB asked the public for patience and understanding.

Es ist mit Verspätungen, Ausfällen und Umleitungen zu rechnen. --> Basel - Stadt https://t.co/JixdKG4QQ5
— Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (@BVB_BaselStadt) November 22, 2024

5.06 a.m.

Zurich Airport does not expect any major disruptions due to snow

Zurich Airport is not expecting any major disruptions on Friday due to the snowfall of the past few hours. The runways were ready for the start of operations at 06:00, as an airport spokesperson told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

The airport's winter services had worked through the night and cleared the runways, among other things, the spokesperson said early on Friday morning. Apart from two flights to Amsterdam, no cancellations were known.

The first snowfall on Thursday affected air traffic as well as road and rail traffic. Numerous flights from Zurich Airport had to be canceled, especially in the early evening, according to information on the airport website.

5.03 a.m.

Sections of the A2 closed to trucks

The A2 between the Giornico heavy traffic center and the Gotthard tunnel is closed to trucks until further notice due to snowfall.

#A2 - Chiasso -> Gotthard - zwischen Raststätte Schwerverkehrszentrum Giornico und Gotthard-Tunnel bis auf weiteres gesperrt für LKW, Schneefall (Ungefähre Zeit: bis auf weiteres)
— TCS Verkehr Gotthard (@TCSGotthard) November 22, 2024

4.37 a.m.

Rail traffic remains restricted today due to snow

The continuing snowfall will also lead to restrictions in rail traffic on Friday. Delays and train cancellations are still possible, as SBB announced on X early Friday morning.

Der anhaltende Schneefall führt weiterhin zu Einschränkungen im Bahnverkehr. Grund dafür sind unter anderem Fahrleitungsstörungen, Fahrzeugstörungen oder vereiste Weichen.
Verspätungen und Zugausfälle bleiben daher weiterhin möglich.
— SBB Medienstelle (@sbbnews) November 22, 2024

The reasons for the restrictions include disruptions to overhead lines and vehicles as well as icy points. SBB is working at full speed to rectify the faults as quickly as possible, an SBB spokesperson said.

Several hundred emergency personnel were doing their utmost to prevent the effects of the cold. The railroad company apologized to passengers and asked them to check the online timetable before departure.

According to the rail company, prolonged snowfall, freezing rain and prolonged cold spells with sub-zero temperatures are particularly demanding for rolling stock.

Friday, November 22, 2024, 2.51 a.m.

Over 20 centimetres of snow in places in the lowlands

The snow cover grew to over 20 centimetres in places in the lowlands on Friday night. The federal measuring stations in Zurich Fluntern and Binnigen BL, for example, registered 27 centimeters of snow at 02:00.

Snow flurries on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. (November 21, 2024)
Picture: Keystone/Ennio Leanza

In Wädenswil ZH, there was a snow cover of 29 centimeters at 2.00 a.m., as the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) announced on X.

Schon fast schweizweites #Winterwonderland. Praktisch aus allen Landesteilen erreichen uns #Schnee #Meteomeldungen. Teils ist die Schneedecke auf > 20 cm angewachsen ➡️ Karte der automatisch gemessenen Schneehöhen von 02 Uhr .📷 aus Basel, Bern und Zürich. pic.twitter.com/dES0xouTCz
— MeteoSchweiz (@meteoschweiz) November 22, 2024

The measuring station in the city of St. Gallen recorded 25 centimetres of snow. In Zollikofen BE, there were 21 centimetres of snow at the time of the measurement, as the measured values on the MeteoSwiss website showed.

The snowfall down to the lowlands caused disruption to road, rail and air traffic on Thursday. The SBB is also expecting disruptions on Friday, as they announced late Thursday evening. According to the MeteoSwiss forecast, there are likely to be isolated snow showers in the lowlands on Friday.

23.58 hrs

The first snow paralyzes traffic in many places

The first snowfall down to the lowlands caused traffic disruptions on Thursday. At the Gotthard, cars were temporarily unable to travel south. Flights and bus services were also affected. SBB also expected disruptions on Friday.

Already on Thursday afternoon, the Bernmobil transport company had to suspend bus services in the federal city. Streetcar line 3 was also taken out of service. The other streetcar lines were running as well as possible, as Bernmobil media spokesman Rolf Meyer told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

This meant that many commuters were forced to walk during rush hour. It happens occasionally in winter that the Bern buses have trouble on steeper sections during heavy snowfall and spin their wheels. On Thursday, bus services were temporarily suspended on the entire network - also for safety reasons. Later that evening, Bernmobil announced on X that it was "suspending operations on the entire route network with immediate effect". So there were no more streetcars running either.

There was also chaos on the roads in Zurich: Due to slippery snow and ice, the Zurich transport company also suspended bus services in the city and surrounding area towards the evening. The streetcar lines only ran irregularly. Passengers departing or arriving near a city train station were advised to use the S-Bahn.

Later in the evening, the Basel transport company also announced that it was suspending public transport services on buses and streetcars until the end of the day - for safety reasons. The weather conditions were "very precarious". Some points are icy or even frozen and can no longer be set. In addition, various gradients were no longer passable for buses. Several roads are also impassable due to blocked cars.

23.50 hrs

No getting through on the Gotthard

According to the TCS, the roads on the stretch between the Gotthard tunnel and Biasca TI were covered in snow in both directions. Driving conditions were difficult, it said. It was recommended to fit snow chains.

Shortly before 3 p.m., traffic on the A2 highway in the southbound direction had to be stopped due to the heavy snowfall and the snow removal work, as the Uri cantonal police wrote in a statement on Thursday evening. Traffic is now flowing again on the A2 southbound.

Due to the heavy snowfall, especially in the Uri Oberland, several reports of stuck vehicles have been received, according to the Uri cantonal police. The cantonal roads in Uri are passable. However, the section from Meien to Färnigen has been closed since 7 p.m. due to the risk of avalanches.

Some more snowfall is expected on Friday, the police wrote.

11.48 p.m.

Winter impressions from Ticino

Almost the whole of Switzerland is packed in absorbent cotton. In the very south too, as this picture from a reader reporter in Ticino shows.

The Christmas spirit is on its way: Thick blanket of snow in Ticino.
blue News Leserreporter

22.56 hrs

SBB also expects disruptions on Friday after snowfall

Rail traffic in Switzerland has been severely affected by the snowfall - for example due to overhead line disruptions, vehicle malfunctions or icy points. SBB is still expecting disruptions on Friday and intends to provide further information at 4.30 am. This was announced by SBB. SBB apologizes to customers for the inconvenience.

According to the statement, SBB is doing everything it can to rectify the disruptions as quickly as possible: "The operational teams are working all night to restore the infrastructure. Nevertheless, disruptions are still to be expected tomorrow."

Weather-related disruptions could occur despite preparations, it said. Particularly challenging for rolling stock and infrastructure are prolonged snowfall, freezing wet conditions or prolonged cold spells with sub-zero temperatures.

Der starke Schneefall führt derzeit zu betrieblichen Einschränkungen wie Fahrleitungsstörungen, Fahrzeugstörungen oder vereisten Weichen. Für die Unannehmlichkeiten entschuldigen wir uns bei den Kundinnen und Kunden.
— SBB Medienstelle (@sbbnews) November 21, 2024

10.33 p.m.

Bernmobil suspends operations completely

Bernmobil has announced on X that it is suspending operations "on the entire route network with immediate effect".

Aufgrund der Strassenverhältnisse stellt BERNMOBIL den Betrieb auf dem ganzen Liniennetz per sofort ein. Wir danken für Ihr Verständnis und hoffen, Sie gelangen sicher und gut nach Hause.
— BERNMOBIL (@BERNMOBIL) November 21, 2024

The transport company was already forced to suspend bus services in the federal city on Thursday afternoon. Streetcar line 3 was also taken out of service. The remaining streetcar lines were running as well as possible, Bernmobil media spokesman Rolf Meyer told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

Cars jam up on the Lorraine Bridge in Bern on Thursday evening during heavy snowfall. The snowstorm brought the evening traffic in Bern to a standstill in the neighborhoods.
Picture: Keystone/Alessandro della Valle

At rush hour, many commuters were forced to walk. The fact that Bern's buses have trouble on steeper sections during heavy snowfall and spin their wheels happens occasionally in winter.

21:57

Winter impressions from Zurich

Like the surrounding city, Zurich's "Christmas avenue" not far from the main station is completely snowed in. The visitors must have been pleased.

The "Zürcher Weihnachtsallee" near the main station.
blue News

21.44 hrs

Heavy snowfall in Degersheim

It continues to snow incessantly in many places in eastern Switzerland, like here in Degersheim in the canton of St. Gallen.

Heavy snow in Degersheim SG.
blue News Leserreporter

21.27 hrs

Delays of up to 80 minutes at Bern station

The display board at Bern station makes the Swiss snow chaos abundantly clear. Due to the capricious weather, no train can leave the important rail junction on time, as pictures show.

Delays of "unknown" up to 80 minutes at Bern station.
blue News Leserreporter

21.12 hrs

Basel's public transport operators suspend services

Nothing is working any more at the public transport company in Basel. As announced in the evening, operations will be suspended until the end of the day "for safety reasons". BVB has left it open as to whether streetcar and bus services can be resumed as planned on Friday morning.

"BVB regrets the current situation and is doing everything it can to ensure that public transport services can be resumed as quickly as possible," the statement said. Further details will be communicated on Friday morning, the BVB announced.

However, the "sometimes very precarious road and rail conditions" left no other choice. Switches are icy or frozen, and routes with steep gradients are also making bus travel difficult. In addition, there were always blocked cars in the way.

9 p.m.

Police inform about several road closures

The onset of winter in Switzerland is taking its toll. The police forces of several cantons have reported that road closures are causing traffic disruptions in many places.

Among other things, the Schürbergstrasse between Seon and Gränichen in Aargau has been closed since the evening due to slippery snow.

Schneeglätte: Schürbergstrasse zwischen Seon und Gränichen gesperrthttps://t.co/7LRI2zNT3l
— POLIZEI-SCHWEIZ.CH (@POLIZEI_SCHWEIZ) November 21, 2024

The cantonal road between Kaisten and Frick is also currently impassable due to snow. There are also obstructions in the canton of Bern, where the main road between Krauchthal and Oberburg is currently closed following an accident.

20.26 hrs

Snow and no end in Uzwil SG

According to SRF Meteo, the heavy snowfall is likely to continue in many places. Even in the eastern foothills of the Alps, there is currently no end in sight, as pictures show.

As in many places in Switzerland, there is no end to the snowfall in Uzwil SG.
blue News Leserreporter

20.20 hrs

Snow chaos also affects air traffic

The heavy snowfall and fog also affected air traffic in Switzerland. Numerous flights from Zurich Airport had to be canceled, especially in the early evening, according to information on the airport website. Both Swiss and other airlines such as Air France and Finnair were affected.

8.11 p.m.

Long-haul routes also severely delayed

SBB trains from Zurich main station are running with long delays.
blue News Leserreporter

SBB's long-distance trains are also currently running with long delays in some cases, as a glance at the departure monitor at Zurich main station shows.

20.01 hrs

Traffic chaos in the city

Lots of snow and traffic in the city of Zurich
blue News Leserreporter

Traffic is backed up in many places in the city of Zurich. Due to the snow, progress is limited, as pictures show. Even shortly after 8 pm, there are still numerous traffic jams.

Long traffic jams have formed.
blue News Leserreporter

The public transport system has already partially collapsed. Buses have not been running since the early evening and streetcars are also limited.

7.28 p.m.

Luxury cars crash in the snow chaos

Two luxury cars collided in the snow in Hugelshofen TG on Thursday. Two people were injured.

7.20 p.m.

Snow in Ticino too

Switzerland's sunniest region was also hit by snow on Thursday. This is shown in pictures taken by two blue News reader reporters. Here for example in Caslano.

It snowed heavily in Caslano TI.
blue News Leserreporter

Even in Minusio TI at only 300 meters above sea level, the snow spread on Thursday, as the picture of a blue News reader reporter shows.

Snow also in Minusio TI
blue News Leserreporter

7.14 pm

Buses no longer running in Bern and Zurich

Bus services in the city of Bern have been completely suspended since the early evening. The picture taken by a blue News reader reporter shows a long queue of buses parked at the side of the road. Due to the snowfall, the service could no longer be maintained.

In the city of Zurich, the buses are already in the depot. Here, too, the heavy snowfall means that nothing can be done and VBZ bus services have been completely suspended.

The buses in the city of Zurich are already in the depot.
Lea Oetiker

19.02 hrs

Snowball fight in the city of Zurich

Schneeballschlacht in der Stadt Zürich. pic.twitter.com/dkhyFV7lY6
— Sven Ziegler (@_svenziegler) November 21, 2024

A spontaneous snowball fight has broken out on Albisriederplatz in the city of Zurich, as blue News editor Lea Oetiker was able to observe.

6.22 pm

Bobsledders in the middle of District 3

Bobsledders are out and about in District 3.
blue News Leserreporter

In the middle of the city of Zurich, nothing works anymore. Bobsledders have now taken over in District 3, as this picture from a blue News reader reporter shows.

6.14 pm

Bus service in Zurich suspended

Bus services in the city of Zurich have been completely suspended. Due to the onset of winter, operations can no longer be maintained, according to VBZ.

6 p.m.

SBB app no longer works

The uncertain weather situation is also affecting passenger transport. And the sudden onset of winter is not only causing problems for SBB because of the snowfall on the tracks. Now the SBB app has also collapsed.

It is currently not possible to buy tickets or call up current connections. The reason for this is apparently a server problem. It is currently unclear when it will be possible to use the app again without any problems.

5.40 pm

Bern buses can no longer run due to snow

Due to the snowfall on Thursday afternoon, the Bernmobil transport company had to suspend bus services. Streetcar line 3 was also taken out of service. The other streetcar lines were running as well as possible, as Bernmobil media spokesman Rolf Meyer told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

During rush hour, many commuters were forced to walk, as one eyewitness reported. In the late afternoon, Meyer was unable to say anything about accidents and body damage, as the situation was still too unclear. The transport company is now hoping that the city's winter road clearance service will be able to clear the roads as quickly as possible.

It happens occasionally in winter that Bern's buses have trouble on steeper sections when there is heavy snowfall and the wheels spin. On Thursday, bus services were temporarily suspended across the entire network. This was also for safety reasons.

The first real snowfall of the season began in Bern on Thursday afternoon.

5.22 pm

Cars covered in snow

Numerous cars have been snowed in since midday on Thursday and have to be freed first on the way home.

The situation is even more extreme in Spiez BE. Here, an entire parking lot is covered in snow - including all the cars.

5.08 p.m.

Accidents on snow-covered roads in the canton of Bern

There were numerous accidents on the snow-covered roads in the canton of Bern on Thursday afternoon. In many cases, the damage is likely to have been minor. It was still unclear on Thursday afternoon whether there were any serious accidents.

In the Bern region, a total of 14 accidents were recorded between 2 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., as a spokesperson for the Bern cantonal police told the Keystone-SDA news agency. There were 12 in the Bernese Oberland, 12 in the Mittelland, Emmental and Oberaargau regions and 9 in the Seeland and Bernese Jura.

In Bern, buses in particular struggled with snow and icy conditions. The Bernmobil transport company had to suspend bus services in the afternoon. There were also traffic restrictions at Bern railroad station due to the weather-related track conditions, according to Railinfo. Delays are to be expected.

16.59 hrs

Passengers shiver in Herisau

Snow-covered platform in Herisau.
blue News Leserreporter

Passengers waiting in Herisau on Thursday evening will need a lot of patience and a thick winter jacket. Trains are running late and the tracks and platforms are covered in snow.

4.47 pm

Difficult conditions on the roads

Difficult conditions on Thursday evening.
TCS

A look at the TCS road map shows that in many places, traffic is making slow progress. Although this is not unusual at closing time, it is more pronounced today than usual. The reason is the snow-covered roads, which are causing difficult conditions in many places. The A2 is partially closed. According to the TCS, a truck has also turned over on the A2 between Basel and Lucerne near Dagmersellen, which is also causing a traffic jam.

16.35 hrs

Truck spins out - A2 closed

The A2 between Amsteg and the Gotthard tunnel is currently completely closed. According to the Uri cantonal police, the reason is a truck that has spun on the snow-covered road.

4.30 p.m.

Numerous public transport services restricted

Due to the heavy snowfall, there are severe disruptions to the public transport network in the evening. In Bern, lines 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 and 32 are completely suspended. There are delays, detour and cancellations on the rest of the streetcar and bus network. Operations in Zurich are also restricted. Line 39 is not running at all, while line 83 is only serving part of the route.

16.21 hrs

This Dalmatian pelican doesn't like it at all...

The Dalmatian pelican doesn't like the snow.
blue News Leserreporter

Not everyone seems to like the sudden onset of winter. On Thursday afternoon, a blue News reader photographed a Dalmatian pelican at the Dälhölzli zoo in Bern, which probably finds the snow more of a horror than a pleasure.

4.16 pm

White blanket of snow in Herisau AR

There is snow in Herisau AR.
blue News Leserreporter

A thick blanket of snow has now also fallen in Herisau. This is shown in a picture taken by a blue News reader. Within a few hours, the landscape has been transformed into a winter wonderland.

3.36 pm

Porsche gets stuck

In Granges-Paccot FR, the heavy snowfall has already led to the first incidents on the road. As the video from a blue News reader shows, road workers had to free a Porsche that got stuck early on Thursday afternoon. Fortunately, the police do not have to be called in this case.

2.46 pm

Snow on the Uetliberg

Now the snow wave has also reached the Zurich region. A fine, white layer has already accumulated on the Uetliberg, as a glance at the webcam shows. In the city, however, the snow has not yet settled.

3.12 pm

Fine layer in Erlinsbach

Snow is also falling in Erlinsbach.
blue News Leserreporter

A fine layer of snow has now also formed in Erlinsbach, as the picture from a blue News reader shows.

Here we go

There is already a layer of snow in Bern
blue News

The low snow level has reached Switzerland. In Bern, thick flakes are already falling from the sky and the ground is already white. Now the snow clouds are slowly moving eastwards and should reach the Zurich region within a short time.

11.05 a.m.

Confederation now warns of "great danger of snow"

Parts of north-western Switzerland are in great danger.
Meteoschweiz

In some regions, the federal government has issued a level 4 warning and thus a high risk of snow. In the upper Basel area and Laufenthal, there is a high risk of snow from 3 pm. The warning level has also been raised in large parts of the Jura.

According to the federal government, road, rail and air traffic may be affected. There is also a risk of branches breaking and trees falling under the weight of the snow, as well as disruption to the power supply and/or telephone lines.

Thursday, November 21, 2024, 5.50 a.m.

A "significant snowfall event for the end of November"

According to MeteoSwiss, a "significant snowfall event for the end of November" appears to be on the horizon, particularly in the central and eastern midlands and in north-western Switzerland. Heavy snowfall is expected on Thursday afternoon and evening and during the night into Friday.

Erster #Wintergruss ❄️Aktuell sind einige #Schneeschauer unterwegs, so z.B. im Raum Bern. Ab Donnerstagnachmittag erwartet uns dann v.a. im zentralen/östlichen Mittelland sowie in der Nordwestschweiz ein markantes Schneefallereignis: https://t.co/rfQq595BSQ
Bild: Meteomeldung/App pic.twitter.com/VGymM1Gy6P
— MeteoSchweiz (@meteoschweiz) November 20, 2024

With moderate to occasionally even high snowfall intensities, especially in the evening hours, 10 to 25 centimetres of fresh snow are likely to fall by Friday morning, especially in the central and eastern midlands and in northwestern Switzerland, even at the lowest altitudes, and even up to 30 centimetres in some areas.

According to MeteoSwiss, up to 40 centimetres are possible at altitudes above around 800 meters. Towards Schaffhausen and the Lake Constance region, the amounts should tend to decrease again.

In the transitional area between rain and snow, there could also be occasional grains of ice or, locally, possibly freezing rain.

1.30 pm

Direction of the low pressure system is a guarantee for larger amounts of snow

According to Meteonews, the aforementioned direction of the low pressure system with an air mass boundary over Switzerland is a guarantee for large amounts of snow. Practically all record snow events in the lowlands have been caused by a similar weather situation. The prime example of this is March 5, 2006, when there was 53 centimetres of fresh snow in Zurich and 49 centimetres in Basel. Such extreme amounts of snow are not to be expected at the moment, but there are between 10 and 20 centimetres of fresh snow in German-speaking Switzerland.