Classification of natural hazards
Natural hazards include all processes and impacts of nature that can be harmful to humans and property. Based on their cause, natural hazards are divided into three different groups:
- Hydrological / meteorological natural hazards
- Floods: inundation, bank erosion, overbank debris flow
- severe weather: thunderstorm, hailstorm, winter storm
- Avalanche (snow and ice avalanche)
- Cyclones
- Tsunami
- Cold spell
- Drought / heat
- Forest fire
Geological natural hazards
Mass movements: Landslide, rock / boulder fall, rock fall, landslide.
Earthquake
Volcanism
Biological natural hazards*
Pests, invasive plant species
Thunderstorms in Switzerland
The most frequent thunderstorms are heat thunderstorms. Frontal thunderstorms are less frequent and less violent.
In Switzerland, heat thunderstorms occur regularly during the hot summer months. The steep topography of the country favors localized heating, followed by an ascent of moist air masses that can form tower-like thunderclouds that rise to high altitudes. The strong updrafts and downdrafts generate electrical voltages that discharge and produce lightning.
Lightning strikes often start fires that can set buildings and forests ablaze. They can also cause severe damage to computers, televisions, telephone systems and other equipment because electronic components are not well suited to withstand power surges. For example, circuit boards or cables melt due to overheating. Every year, lightning kills about a thousand people worldwide - either from the lightning strike itself, from electrocution, or from burns.
https://www.gev-versicherung.de/ratgeber/naturgefahren-naturkatastrophen-deutschland/