Violent thunderstorms are expected in the canton of Geneva

Published today at 3:02 p.m.

17h47

So, this peak in storm intensity? For the moment, no peak, no intensity or storm. The outbreak of celestial hostilities shifts towards the evening. According to the latest forecasts, the thunderclaps could start from 8 p.m. and sustained episodes, mixing rain, hail and wind, follow one another until 11 p.m., with a trailing sky which could remain choppy until 3 a.m.

Milky, the sky right now. It is loaded with sand from the Sahara, preventing us from seeing the formation of clouds that are precursors of bad weather. In the courtyard of the SIS barracks, the fire trucks are covered in a fine brown color. Activity is normal.

ThM

5:20 p.m.

“Geneva Airport and other European airports are facing difficult weather conditions, flights are experiencing delays and disruptions,” the airport announced in a update published at 5 p.m. on its website.

Genève Aéroport invites travelers to regularly consult information related to the status of flights (site of interestGVapp, etc) and apologizes in advance for any inconvenience caused.

ADV

16h44

The staff of the 118 center has been reinforced, with the opening of a second room also dedicated to taking calls. For the moment, the lines are not overloaded.

ThM

16h08

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

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

ThM

15h33

The head of the Geneva fan zone reacts to the decision of the Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs (DIN) to cancel all event permits this Saturday from 2:00 p.m. “We understand the security 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 who expected to welcome more than twelve thousand Nati supporters has a special thought for the stand managers who prepared various recipes for the fans. “These are things that happen and we have to take them with a lot of courage,” says Sooknah Kilian who hopes that “the weather will be good tomorrow to allow football lovers to reconnect with the good atmosphere of the fan zone.”

Etonam Ahianyo

15h16

The big party planned 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.

ThM

14h59

Light rain in Geneva around 2:20 p.m. An innocuous sequence, nothing to refresh the atmosphere; just speed up the work of tidying up the last flea markets in the Plainpalais market. They will all be gone soon. The aisles are empty, the fan zone is closed like a day without a match. That of the Place de Sardaigne in Carouge also.

The entertainment is on the fire station side. The canton’s volunteer companies sent their leaders for a final briefing with the SIS crisis staff. The operations center is open. It brings together firefighters, police and civil protection, in anticipation of the volume of interventions to be coordinated between now and next night.

Because weather forecasts always point to the arrival of super storm cells, with values ​​never measured before in Europe as to their potential power. We are also talking about hailstones of 6 cm, the size of a tennis ball, gusts of wind at 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.

ThM

14h31

14h02

The level 4 alert was launched late Friday afternoon. This Saturday, at a time when the Nati face Italy In the 8th finals of Euro 2024, violent storms are expected in the canton. As a precaution, the authorities have 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.