A powerful line of thunderstorms swept across Switzerland late on 16 July and into the early hours of 17 July, flooding sections of the A2 and A1 motorways and forcing Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to suspend several InterCity and regional services. Swissinfo reports that firefighters responded to more than 500 call-outs for fallen trees and power outages, particularly in the cantons of Bern, Lucerne and St. Gallen. Zurich Airport kept one runway closed for 45 minutes after lightning struck a taxiway guidance system, causing knock-on delays of up to two hours on Friday morning departures. Geneva Airport diverted four inbound flights to Lyon while ground crews cleared debris. EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse reported normal operations but warned of possible evening turbulence. For corporate mobility managers the immediate concern is employee safety and itinerary changes. SBB estimates that most long-distance services will resume normal timetables by late afternoon, but regional lines in the Emmental and Toggenburg areas remain blocked by mudslides. Road travellers face continued congestion near the Lenzburg interchange on the A1, where a culvert overflowed. Insurance brokers note that “Act of God” clauses may limit airline compensation for storm-related delays, shifting the burden onto travellers or their employers. Companies arranging same-day client meetings should consider virtual alternatives and remind staff to monitor the MeteoSwiss weather-alert app, which remains on orange level for heavy rain in eastern cantons through tonight.
Source: SWI swissinfo
