Weather services and the ANWB predict a very busy and wet start to the summer holidays for Dutch people who go to the Alpine area. In Switzerland, Italy and Austria, emergency weather is expected on Saturday and Sunday. Also on Monday and Tuesday it probably rains all day.
In Switzerland, the northeast of the Swiss Alps in particular will be affected. In Austria Tyrol and Vorarlberg on Saturday, extremely much rain is expected on Saturday. The prediction is that 250 millimeters of rain can fall, that is more than what normally falls in a whole summer.
Since the beginning of July, the Alps have been dealing with cool and changeable summer weather. Due to climate change, the seawater in the Mediterranean Sea is four degrees warmer than normal. This ensures the ongoing low -pressure areas in the entire Alpine area. Higher in the mountains, two weeks ago, a lot of snow fell.
The many rain and thunderstorms have already caused problems. In Austria this week were reports of sudden floods in the Innsbruck region, which stopped road and train traffic. The well -known Brennerpas was also not passable due to the bad weather, which is now open again.
Due to the persistent rain, the soil is saturated in many places. This increases the risk on earthly collapses and mud flows with each mood. Last year, heavy rainfall led to large floods in Central Europe. Then at least eighteen people died in Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria.
Especially Saturday, July 26, a lot of delay is expected by the holiday pressure and the bad weather on the holiday routes to the south. Next weekend, Saturday 2 August, is the busiest day on the holiday roads: Black Saturday.