Strong snowfall hits Switzerland
The Easter break has started with heavy snowfall and strong winds in Switzerland, causing some disruption to traffic.
It snowed across the country from Geneva to Zurich, with 15 centimetres being reported in the lowlands and up to half a metre in some alpine valleys.
The wind blew at more than 140 kilometres an hour in some parts of central Switzerland, with the Säntis mountain recording a high of 146 km/h.
The Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research Davos has warned of an increased danger of avalanches in parts of the northern flank of the Alps, Valais, and the eastern canton of Graubünden.
Road and rail traffic have been suffering problems, with some roads in Valais being closed. Several accidents have also been reported.
Some trains, including on the Lausanne-Basel line, were affected in the morning. Other services were disrupted by fallen trees on the track.
Snow during the Easter break is not unusual in Switzerland and this year Easter is the earliest since 1913.
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