MeteoSwiss yesterday launched a degree 3 alert (marked danger) concerning the Rhône. There is indeed a risk of flooding. The forecast calls for widespread precipitation in the morning today, with heavy accumulations in the Alps. A few clear spells will be followed by showers and thunderstorms, sometimes violent.
This precipitation risks causing flooding and the City of Sion has strictly prohibited access to the banks of the Rhône and lateral watercourses located on the territory of the municipality. This until Monday evening. “It is dangerous to walk there and we urge the population to respect this ban,” said the press release. Surveillance measures are in place.”
Faced with the precipitation that has fallen since Thursday, the weather forecasts for this Friday as well as the melting of the snow and the saturation of the soil, the Cantonal Control Body (OCC) has been activated, the State of Valais announced this Friday morning. “The flow of the Rhône is currently at a high level and is expected to continue to increase until reaching its peak on Friday late afternoon or evening. The Rhône alert has been transmitted to the municipalities.
Overflows and debris flows can also occur on side watercourses. So it is not only in Sion but throughout the canton that it is recommended not to approach watercourses, “not to park on bridges, to limit your movements, to give up filming or photograph the events and strictly comply with the orders of the authorities.
In French-speaking Switzerland, a level 2 alert (limited danger) has also been launched for Lake Geneva.
