Storms cause chaos in Switzerland after heatwave

Switzerland faced sudden and severe weather disruptions after two weeks of intense heat. Heavy thunderstorms brought torrential rain, hail, and landslides, overwhelming emergency services and causing significant transport chaos.

The canton of Zurich was particularly hard-hit, with firefighters receiving over 700 calls. Heavy rainfall flooded streets, basements, and underground garages, while numerous water bodies overflowed their banks. The storm unleashed 8,500 lightning strikes and winds near 90 km/h in the region, uprooting trees and disrupting services.

In Zurich, water poured through the ceiling at the Stadelhofen train station, creating large puddles. Wallisellen and Opfikon experienced extensive flooding in basements and garages, with one delivery vehicle trapped in a submerged underpass. Sandbags were used to protect buildings from further water ingress.

Elsewhere, a landslide in Seedorf blocked a road, prompting one driver to turn back to avoid potential danger. Meteorologists warned of the heaviest rainfall expected in the northern Alps and eastern parts of the country, while Bern and northwestern Switzerland were predicted to avoid the worst.

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Zurich was battered by a powerful storm that unleashed 8,500 lightning strikes across the region and nearly 90 km/h winds. Trees were uprooted, streets flooded, transport disrupted, and emergency crews responded to hundreds of incidents.