Severe hail storm causes damage and injuries in Zurich region

A powerful hail storm swept through the northern Zurich region on Friday morning, leaving a trail of damage, injuries, and travel disruptions.

The storm, which hit areas including Bülach and Winterthur around 10 a.m., unleashed hailstones described as being as large as golf balls. Pedestrians and cyclists caught outdoors sustained injuries, with Winterthur Cantonal Hospital reporting multiple head injuries treated in its emergency department.

Buildings also suffered damage, with eyewitnesses reporting broken windows. The cantonal building insurance company reported a continuous stream of calls from affected property owners, though it was too early to provide a full overview of the claims.

To illustrate the potential cost of such extreme weather, the building insurance's business report referenced a 2021 hail storm in Lucerne, where hailstones up to nine centimeters in diameter fell. Experts calculated that a similar-sized storm over the canton of Zurich could cause approximately 1.5 billion Swiss francs in building damage.

Public transportation was also affected. The storm caused delays on numerous train routes across Switzerland. In the Zurich region, the S33 line between Winterthur and Schaffhausen experienced limited service due to a barrier being forced down, requiring trains to slow significantly. The airport also reported delays as flights were impacted by the severe weather.