Zermatt Cut off Again

Access to Zermatt (pictured above a week ago) will be closed again this evening due to avalanche risk.

The shut down will begin at 10pm this evening and it's not known when it will end, however the resort says it will provide updated information tomorrow morning. In the meantime they're suggesting anyone planning to get there seeks accommodation in a Swiss city instead.

"Due to avalanche risk, the street and train line Täsch-Zermatt are closed from Saturday, 20 January 2018 10pm. Therefore, Zermatt is not accessible anymore. Travelling guests are asked to look for an accommodation in bigger cities like Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva or Lausanne and to wait. Further information will be available on Sunday morning, 21 January 2018," a resort statement says.

Forecasters expect up to 60cm more snowfall in Zermatt over the next few days, it is reported to have had 20cm of snow today with the avalanche risk on the slopes at 4 out of 5 on the risk scale.

Zermatt made world headlines 10 days ago when the resort was cut off from the outside world trapping 13,000 guests in the village at the time. It is unknown whether any of them were concerned that they were stuck in Zermatt.

Our sunny week of skiing in Zermatt just before Christmas is looking more and more jammy!

We have probably got as much snow now as we had in the avalanche winter of 1999. The helicopter shuttle is now in operation so strictly speaking Zermatt is no longer cut off. The avalanche danger level over a large part of the Swiss alps has now risen to 5 https://www.slf.ch/en.html?no_cache=1 so lots of places are cut off and houses are having to be evacuated.

so I am booked in for a few days skiing due to arrive on sat 27th. Big question is do I still go? Anyone got any idea when the avalanche risk are normally downgraded following this kind of scenario?

Stewdog wrote:Big question is do I still go?

Tough call; a few relatively clear days are forecast (tomorrow through Thursday) that should allow road and rail links (and ski lifts!) to be progressively re-opened but a bit of snow is on the cards for Friday/Saturday.

It is looking clear and settled from then on though, so next week might just be the week of the season (if you can find safe pitches to ski).

Stewdog wrote:Anyone got any idea when the avalanche risk are normally downgraded following this kind of scenario?

I don't think "normally" applies... 8)

Widespread Level 5 (today) is really quite exceptional and, given the amount of snow now in place, it's going to take at least a few days to moderate. Clearer weather will help though.

its a tough call. I am hoping that it clears up of course and that we get some spectacular skiing. If not, I guess we go straight to the apres, even if there is no ski!

Apparently only 30 of 1500 people hoping to leave by the helicopter link got out today due to logistical issues, and rail will remain closed tomorrow.

https://www.zermatt.ch/en/liveticker

It's too early to be certain, but conditions should improve sufficiently to enable he reopening of the railway line to Zermatt before the weekend. Hopefully the line won't get hit by a landslide the snow line is around 1300m below that altitude it has rained heavily, which has caused lots of landslides.

According to this evenings SLF snow forecast the weather should get better over the next few days:

"Outlook through Thursday, 25.01.2018
Wednesday
Wednesday will be mostly sunny, and in the north it will be mild with temperatures around +5 °C at 2000 m. The wind will change direction, becoming westerly to southwesterly. The enormous snow quantities of recent days will stabilise quickly so that the risk of large avalanches will decrease significantly. The situation will remain precarious for winter sport participants venturing off piste. The strengthening wind will also give rise to local snow drift accumulations as the day progresses.
Thursday
The morning will be quite sunny, but then cloud will build up from the west and south. The wind will be strong from the southwest, and a foehn wind will develop in the northern valleys. Snow drift accumulations that are prone to triggering will form. Large avalanches are becoming unlikely."

https://www.slf.ch/en/avalanche-bulletin-and-snow-situation.html?no_cache=1#snowpack

J2SkiNews wrote:Apparently only 30 of 1500 people hoping to leave by the helicopter link got out today due to logistical issues, and rail will remain closed tomorrow.

Strangely they did managed to fly 250 people in. A tourist in the village is worth a lot more than one on his way home!