In Italy, heavy snowfall creates a Christmas atmosphere – but also enormous danger on the roads. A border tunnel has now been closed.
Turin – If you would like lots of snow for Christmas, you should think about a vacation in Italy. The northwest of the country in particular has been bathed in deep white for a few days thanks to heavy snowfall. But that also leads to problems on the roads.
While some ski areas in Austria had to temporarily close due to a lack of snow, snow in western Italy was already falling heavily from the sky last week. Almost a meter of fresh snow fell in the Prato Nevoso ski area around December 18th. And that’s exactly how it went on. There is now so much snow that the whiteness is becoming dangerous.
Snow alarm in the Alps: Italy closes border tunnel due to risk of avalanches
There appears to be a massive danger of avalanches, particularly on the French side of the Alps. Because after the heavy snowfall, the Tenda tunnel, which connects Italy and France below Cuneo, was closed in both directions. This is what the news agency reports Ansa citing the ANAS.
The ban appears to be in effect for an indefinite period of time. Only when “full safety has been restored for all road users” will the 3,182 meter long tunnel be opened to traffic again.
It is not the only border crossing in the region that had to be closed due to the heavy snowfall. According to the report, the border at Colle della Maddalena in the Cuneo region is currently closed in both directions. Here too, snowfall and an avalanche warning are the reason.
It could stay that way for some time, as further snowfall is forecast in northwestern Italy. Showers are expected, particularly in southern Piedmont and western Liguria. Snow falls above 1000-1200 meters. But according to Rai, the snowfall limit will drop to 500 to 700 meters in the afternoon before Christmas Eve.
Especially in the region around Cuneo, snow has been falling continuously since December 22nd, as the portal il dolomiti reports. (Sources used: Ansa, Rai, il meteo)
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