GENEVA, Switzerland – The Swiss meteorological office, MeteoSwiss, has issued a Degree 3 alert for strong, gusty winds for most of Switzerland for the next 48 hours. 

Gusty winds between 70 and 90 km/h can be expected until Wednesday 10 February.

The southwest winds will be particularly felt in elevations below 1,800 metres.

The Lake Geneva region and most of western Switzerland are under a strong advisory. Most of the Valais will also be affected.

Storm Imogen which is causing havoc in northern Europe  is also affecting western Switzerland. Swiss TV network, RTS, broadcast today images of the high winds over Lake Neuchatel.

Meanwhile, more than 100 passengers on a ferry sailing between France and Ireland were forced to take shelter off the UK coast  after Imogen caused heavy seas and strong winds.

In spite of increasingly forceful winds over Geneva late this afternoon, the first Boeing 777 from Swiss Airlines landed successfully at Geneva Airport.

The 777 will connect Switzerland in long-haul flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Bangkok and Hong Kong, carrying up to 340 passengers.

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