Switzerland gripped by Arctic freeze

Temperatures in Switzerland have plummeted to their lowest levels this winter, as frozen air from the Arctic forces its way into Europe's usually temperate regions.

Temperatures in Switzerland have plummeted to their lowest levels this winter, as frozen air from the Arctic forces its way into Europe’s usually temperate regions.

The chill started after heavy snowfalls at the weekend, and by mid-week some areas were reporting temperatures below minus 30 degrees.

Across the country, thermometers recorded new lows for the winter: at Le Brevine in canton Neuchatel temperatures plunged to minus 33.5; in Samedan in the Engadine, residents braved minus 28.9 degrees. The capital, Berne, got off lightly with temperatures of minus 13 in the early hours of Wednesday.

By daybreak, the worst was over. Meteorologists confirmed that the coldest place in the country – the Glattalp in canton Schwyz – was four degrees “warmer” than on Tuesday, at minus 37.4 degrees.

Surprisingly, some lower-lying areas suffered more than the highest Alpine peaks. The station at Jungfraujoch in canton Berne – at 3745 metres above sea level – recorded temperatures of minus 15 degrees, which was considerably warmer than many places at much lower altitudes.

The “freeze” was not confined to Switzerland. Large areas of Europe and the United States experienced plunging temperatures this week.

In Russia and eastern Europe, hundreds died of exposure. On Wednesday, the Russian authorities were reporting a death toll of 147. In Poland, police said the icy temperatures in recent days had killed 129 people across the country.

In Turkey, 2,000 people had to be evacuated from their village in Hakkari province, because of the danger of avalanches.

Meteorologists in Switzerland say the worst is now over and that it will gradually begin to warm up into the weekend.

From staff and wire reports