Swiss airports canceled or diverted dozens of flights as a winter storm brought hurricane-force winds and heavy snowfall to parts of the Alpine nation, as AP reported. Zurich airport saw over 100 flights canceled Friday. Delays were expected to continue through Saturday, said spokeswoman Sonja Zoechling. Switzerland's second busiest airport, Geneva, also experienced disruptions. Train connections and boat services on Switzerland's lakes also were affected as the storm brought gusts of up to 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) and heavy rain to low-lying areas. At higher elevations the low pressure system dumped large amounts of snow on previously bare slopes. Switzerland had been experiencing an unseasonably warm and dry start to the winter until this week. Forecasters have warned of strong avalanche danger in some areas of the Alps and police are warning residents to beware of falling tree limbs and other debris.
