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Alps Snowstorm Leaves One Dead, Two Missing, and Avalanche Risk at Maximum

A rare spring snowstorm disrupts Alpine regions with over a meter of snow, causing fatalities, injuries, and widespread closures.

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Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe, boasting guaranteed snow cover from November to May
The storm unleashed rains that drenched parts of northern Italy and dumped snow at higher altitudes

Overview

  • An unusually intense spring snowstorm has blanketed the Alps with over a meter of snow, causing severe disruptions across France, Italy, and Switzerland.
  • Authorities have confirmed one fatality, a severe avalanche injury, and continue searching for a father and son missing near Vicenza, Italy.
  • Avalanche warnings remain at the highest level of 5/5, leading to closures of ski resorts, roads, and tunnels, and orders for residents in some areas to stay indoors.
  • Power outages affected over 3,300 French households, while train services and cross-border tunnels between France and Italy were halted.
  • Experts note that while April snow is not unprecedented in the Alps, the storm's rapid accumulation highlights the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events.