Unusually high temperatures caused by climate change have reportedly caused flooding and deadly landslides in the Swiss Alps.
Swiss hydrologist Frederic Jordan commented on the extreme weather events brought about by climate change in the country to Swiss State Television (RTS).
“Heavy rains and melting snow have caused extraordinary floods and deadly landslides in parts of the Swiss Alps,” Jordan said, adding that unusually high temperatures linked to the climate crisis are changing the climate and Switzerland needs to adapt better.
Jordan reminded that Switzerland has usually experienced severe flooding in the August-October period in the last century, “But when we look at the last 12 months, we had a major flood on the Rhone River on November 14, 2023 and June 21, 2024, which is quite new. This change is most likely linked to climate change and high temperatures are a factor that increases the risks.”
Reminding that the temperature was 14 degrees Celsius when heavy rains caused flooding in Zermatt, Switzerland on June 21, Jordan said the temperature was higher than in August 1987 or October 2000, when the worst Rhone floods occurred.
“The risk is much higher in mountainous areas. Climate events such as landslides and floods can happen faster and be more severe than in the lowlands. This year there is a lot of snow at high altitude, which increases the risk even more.”
