Back on December 23rd, I posted Not just here - weather in Asia about the unseasonably cold weather in Japan, China and India.
Now this from the UK Telegraph:
Chaos in the Alps as massive snowfall traps 15,000 cars
Skiers trying to make their way to and from French Alps resorts were plunged into chaos on Saturday night as 15,000 cars were trapped on the roads and emergency overnight centres were set up to shelter trapped tourists.
Some more:
Emergency shelters were set up in 12 locations across the Savoie region – among them Albertville, Bourg Saint-Maurice, Moûtiers, and Chambéry.
"Some people will be able to make a U-turn, but others, who are only a few kilometres from the resorts, will be accommodated in the emergency shelters," said a spokesman for the Savoie prefecture.
At 7pm on Saturday night Le Dauphine Libere, the local newspaper, reported that 500 people were trapped at the station in Aime, with the local mayors speaking to a coach firm to work out how to transport the holidaymakers. All hoteliers were being asked to accommodate stranded tourists.
And the thing is - the Swiss are used to severe weather. Skiing is a major tourist industry for them and they have been doing this for a long long time. For a storm of such intensity to catch them off-guard points to some severe weather.