Violent storms are expected in the canton of Geneva

Published today at 3:02 p.m.

16h44

The number of central 118 staff has been increased, with the opening of a second room dedicated to taking calls as well. For the moment, the lines are not overloaded.

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16h08

The Plainpalais district is deserted like a Sunday. The plain is empty, the atmosphere is completely artificial, knowing that Switzerland is playing its Euro in two short hours against Italy. The fan zone has turned off its four screens.

The retreats are organized in the neighborhood cafes, in mini indoor fan zone mode. Nothing to do with the fervor promised from an audience of 12,000 people. This predicted storm is reminiscent, at ground level, of the bad months of Covid.

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15h33

The head of the Geneva fan zone reacts to the decision of the Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs (DIN) to cancel all authorizations for events this Saturday from 2:00 p.m. “We understand the safety concerns posed by the risk of thunderstorms. At the same time, we are sorry for the public who will not be able to enjoy the atmosphere in the fan zone during tonight’s match,” says Sooknah Kilian.

According to the Geneva authorities, the risk of a violent storm, with gusts of up to 100 km/h, large hailstones, lightning strikes and heavy downpours, is highly probable.

The project manager who runs the space that was expecting to welcome more than twelve thousand Nati supporters has a special thought for the stand owners who have prepared various recipes for the fans. “These are things that happen and we must take them with great courage,” says Sooknah Kilian who hopes that “the weather will be mild tomorrow to allow football fans to reconnect with the good atmosphere of the fan zone.”

Etonam Ahianyo

15h16

The big party planned for this evening on the Bateau Genève, marking the 50 years of existence of the association which manages the place, has been postponed as regards its official part scheduled from 6 p.m. There will be no speeches on the upper deck, but shelter offered for the many passengers who had planned to come. For them, this storm warning means additional vulnerability. The Boat therefore continues its mission of unconditional welcome, a meal will be served on board. And if the weather permits, in the second part of the evening, the music should still take over.

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14h59

Light rain in Geneva around 2:20 p.m. An innocuous sequence, not enough to cool the atmosphere; just speed up the work of tidying up the last flea market vendors in Plainpalais. They will all be gone soon. The aisles are emptying, the fan zone is closed like a day without a match. The one on Place de Sardaigne in Carouge is also closed.

The fire station is buzzing with activity. The canton’s volunteer companies have sent their leaders for a final briefing with the SIS crisis headquarters. The operational center is open. It brings together firefighters, police and civil protection, in anticipation of the volume of interventions to be coordinated between now and tonight.

Because weather forecasts always point to the arrival of super storm cells, with values ​​never before measured in Europe in terms of their potential power. We are also talking about hailstones of 6 cm, the size of a tennis ball, wind gusts of 100 km/h and more, with rainy episodes that can reach 60 to 70 liters per square meter.

At this stage, there is a 60 to 70% chance that the series of storms will directly affect the Geneva area. The emergency services, which are very mobilized, cannot count on the optimism that this massive front would shift behind the Jura or the Salève. The axis of passage of the storms in a row can indeed fluctuate from one moment to the next.

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14h31

14h02

The level 4 alert was launched late Friday afternoon. This Saturday, at a time when the Nati face Italy in the round of 16 of Euro 2024, violent storms are expected in the canton. As a precaution, the authorities decided tocancel all public events from 2 p.m.including in the Plainpalais fan zone.

Follow with us the evolution of the situation in the canton of Geneva and in neighboring France.