Major thunderstorms temporarily cut off Zermatt by road and rail and led Tignes to delay its summer ski season opening this weekend.
The Swiss government's weather service said 124 mm (4.88 in) of rain had fallen around the Matterhorn on Friday, most of it over a one-hour period, with the greatest impact on the town of Misox at the base of the mountain, where there people are missing after floodwaters raged through.
Road and rail access to Zermatt were suspended, reminiscent of when the famous ski resort is occasionally cut off in winter by high avalanche danger. People in the village were asked to stay indoors after 5pm on Friday with a 'water alarm'. Zermatt's summer ski operations were also suspended.
The situation began improving yesterday evening however. A partially resumed rail service, including a replacement buses running from Täsch to Visp, went into operation and the road between Täsch and Visp reopened to traffic again at 8 p.m.
In France, Tignes, which had been due to commence a month-long summer ski season on Saturday announced it was delaying after the Friday storms. It will now open its slopes next Saturday the 29th.