A sudden winter storm has taken Switzerland by surprise, bringing heavy snowfall and record low temperatures to the region.

In the Grimsel Pass area, British tourists found themselves stranded as their vehicles, equipped with summer tires, were unable to navigate the icy roads.

The unexpected snowstorm, unusual for mid-September, has dumped over 30 centimeters of snow, with temperatures plummeting to minus five degrees Celsius.

Several Alpine passes, including Grimsel, remain closed due to the severe weather conditions.

Meanwhile, across Switzerland, the snowline has dropped to as low as 1200 meters, with some areas experiencing snowflakes below 1000 meters.

This abrupt cold front has set new local temperature records, with some regions experiencing their coldest September days since records began.

The storm is expected to continue until Saturday, with a brief respite in sight as temperatures are predicted to rise slightly by Sunday.