Level 4 weather alert (direct): French-speaking Switzerland is preparing for violent storms

Published today at 2:04 p.m.

16h04

The Municipal Council of the City of Le Locle has therefore decided to cancel all events in the territory of Le Locle and Brenets from 4:00 p.m. this Saturday. Particularly concerned are the Watch Town Planning Festival on the square in front of the Town Hall in Le Locle and the fan zone in Les Brenets for the Switzerland-Italy Eurofoot match.

“This decision is taken in order to guarantee the well-being of the population and to limit the risk of disaster as much as possible,” specified the authorities of the Mother Commune of the Neuchâtel Mountains. In Val-de-Travers, it is the first day of Fleurier Abbey, a local institution, which has been canceled.

In the lower canton, the municipal authorities of Neuchâtel have taken the decision to cancel the youth festival planned for this Saturday in Peseux. Beyond that, the weather alerts should disrupt the holding of several fan zones planning to welcome the public for the 6 p.m. meeting between Switzerland and Italy.

In the canton of Fribourg, MeteoSwiss has announced a level three alert. Severe thunderstorms are expected across the country.

15h24

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 risks of a violent storm, with gusts of 100 km/h, large hailstones, lightning strikes and heavy downpours are 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.”

14h40

In Valais, the cantonal management body has also issued several warnings. It notes that the bad weather risks causing “overflows and torrential lava along the lateral watercourses.”

Concerning the Rhone, the flood danger is marked (level 3) from the mouth of the Saltina to Lake Geneva. The canton insists on not approaching waterways, not parking on bridges, limiting travel or even refraining from filming or photographing events.

1:16 p.m

Severe weather is forecast for French-speaking Switzerland as the Nati faces the Italian football team in Berlin as part of Euro 2024.

The editorial staff of “24heure” and the “Tribune de Genève” are working alongside me to bring you the latest news about this natural outburst as closely as possible.