Temperatures in Switzerland soared above the seasonal average for the month of April on Saturday, peaking at 26.2 degrees Celsius in Sierre in canton Valais.
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It was the highest April temperature recorded in Valais in 50 years, according to Meteo Swiss. Other corners of Switzerland came close, with 26 degrees in Sion, 25.9 degrees in Chur and 24.3 in Bellinzona. Up at 1,600 metres in the ski resort of Davos, the reading was 16 degrees.
Sunny conditions mixed with warm and dry southwesterly air currents.
Alpine passes were expected to be opened on average one week ahead of time. The Gotthard pass is scheduled to open on May 12 and the Furka pass from May 20.
But in line with the later than usual Easter holidays, the ski season is continuing at many resorts, with Verbier and Crans-Montana open until May 1 and Adelboden in the Bernese Oberland scheduled to keep its pistes open until May 8.
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