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Climate in Switzerland


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Switzerland

Map - Switzerland

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In Switzerland, the climate is moderately continental on the plateau, with cold, dull winters and warm summers, during which thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
The Canton of Ticino, located on the south-facing side, has a milder and sunnier climate, though it is very rainy, with afternoon thunderstorms in summer and heavy rains in autumn.
In the mountains, the climate becomes colder with increasing altitude, but in winter, they are located above the blanket of fog and low clouds that often covers the plateau, so they are also sunnier in this season.

The climate in detail


  • The plateau - Bern, Zurich, Geneva
  • Ticino - Lugano
  • The Alps - Davos
  • Wind
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The plateau



The main Swiss cities are located on a plateau called Mittelland ("Central Plateau"), which lies at an altitude of about 400/600 meters (1,300/2,000 feet).
As mentioned, the climate here is moderately continental. The average temperature in January is slightly above freezing, that of July and August around 19/20 °C (66/68 °F).
Several cities are located along the shores of lakes, but only the largest ones (such as Lake Geneva and Lake Constance) manage to moderate the climate slightly.
In winter, snowfalls on the plateau are quite frequent.
The cold wind, which in Switzerland and in central France is called Bise, blows from the north-east and is more frequent in winter and spring. Late snowfalls and frosts are typical of the northern side of the Alps, which is exposed to cold currents from northern Europe.
By the second half of April, when the first warm days occur, thunderstorms begin to erupt in the afternoon. Atlantic weather fronts can bring cool and rainy days even in summer.
In summer, sometimes there can be hot periods, with maximum temperatures of 33/34 °C (91/93 °F) or more, which generally last a few days, but are becoming more frequent due to climate warming.

Bern

Climate chart - Bern
Bern, the capital of Switzerland, lies on the plateau, at 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, and has an average temperature ranging from 0.5 °C (33 °F) in January to 19 °C (66 °F) in July. There are on average 35 days with snowfall per year, usually occurring from November to April.
In Bern, precipitation amounts to about 1,025 mm (40.5 in) per year, well distributed throughout the year, but with a maximum in late spring and in summer due to afternoon thunderstorms.

Zurich

In Zurich, 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, the temperatures are similar to that of Bern. The weather in winter is often cold and dull, but there can be some gloomy days even in summer. The rain pattern is also very similar to that of Bern, with 1,100 mm (44 in) per year and a maximum in late spring and summer.
In winter, on anticyclonic periods, when the sun shines in the mountains and in Ticino, a cloud blanket usually forms in Zurich and the cities of the plateau, which are therefore the least sunny of Switzerland.

Zurich in winter

In Lucerne too, the average temperature is also around 1 °C (34 °F) in January and around 20 °C (68 °F) in July.

Geneva

Because of its location more to the west and on the shores of the lake of the same name, the climate in Geneva is a bit less cold in winter, with the average temperature being 2 °C (36 °F) in January and with rarer snowfalls, and a little warmer and sunnier in summer, with an average of 20 °C (68 °F) in July.
The rainfall is lower, especially in summer, and the total is 925 mm (36.5 in) per year.

A similar climate is found in Lausanne and Montreux, the other major cities on Lake Geneva. In Montreaux, the summer is usually pleasant, and there is a moderate amount of nice and sunny days.

Geneva

Basel, located at 250 meters (800 ft) above sea level, lies outside the plateau, in the Rhine River Valley, that is, in the climatic area of Central Europe. Since the lower altitude is balanced out by the higher latitude, the climate here is similar to that of cities like Zurich and Bern, and warmer by only 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degree Fahrenheit). Therefore, Basel is cold and gloomy in winter as well, and relatively warm, with possible thunderstorms, in summer.

In contrast, the Valais is a part of Switzerland with a peculiar microclimate, and in particular, the valley of Sion: here, precipitation is fairly low, only 585 mm (23 in) per year, because of the orientation of the valley (west-east), which protects it from both cold currents from the north and warm and humid currents from the Mediterranean Sea. On the other hand, during winter, cold air stagnates in the valley, to the point that the average low temperature in January is -3 °C (26.5 °F).

Canton of Ticino



The warmest cities of Switzerland are those of Ticino, which is located on the southern side of the Alps, and therefore is sheltered from the cold northern wind, as happens in Locarno, located at 195 meters (640 feet) above sea level on the shores of Lake Maggiore, and Lugano, located at less than 300 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level and tempered by the lake of the same name.
Here, the climate is similar to that of the shores of Lake Como in Italy, and it's relatively mild in winter, when snowfalls and frosts are quite rare, while it's warm but not oppressive in summer.
However, the climate of Ticino is quite rainy, especially in autumn (when the rains are due to warm air masses from the Ligurian Sea) and in late spring and summer (when they are due to afternoon thunderstorms, which are enhanced by the surrounding mountains, as well as by the waters of the lake). Here, the relatively driest season is winter, from December to February.

Lugano

Climate chart - Lugano
In Lugano, the monthly average temperature ranges from 4 °C (39 °F) in January to 22.7 °C (72.8 °F) in July.
The rainfall amounts to 1,570 mm (62 in) per year.

The Alps



In the mountains, the climate varies with altitude and slope exposure. Most of the country is located on the northern side of the Alps, which has a lower average temperature than the southern side, and therefore a lower snowline.
The weather in the mountains is highly variable, in fact, it depends, more than in the lowlands, on the nature of the air mass that affects a given area at a given time. So, above 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), during cold spells, it can sometimes snow even in June. On the other hand, on sunny days, the temperature can rise above freezing and become almost mild even in winter.
During the warm season, from May to September, in the mountains, there are frequent thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

Zermatt, located in the canton of Valais, at 1,600 meters (5,250 feet) above sea level, has a relatively dry microclimate, in fact, it is sheltered on both the north and south sides by a double chain of mountains, just like the aforementioned Sion, so the annual precipitation is lower than 650 mm (25.5 in). However, in the mountains that surround it, which are high and covered with glaciers, you can ski for most of the year. In Zermatt, the monthly average temperature ranges from -3.5 °C (26 °F) in January to 14 °C (57 °F) in July.

Davos

Climate chart - Davos
In Davos, in the Canton of Grisons, at 1,600 meters (5,250 feet) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from -4.5 °C (24 °F) in January to 13 °C (55.5 °F) in July.
In Davos, summer is definitely the rainiest season because of afternoon thunderstorms.
As mentioned, on anticyclonic periods, the sun shines more often in the mountains than in the plateau and in the valley bottoms. In summer, however, although in the morning the sun often shines, at mid-day and in the afternoon, the sky becomes often cloudy, and thunderstorms can break out.

Davos

Wind



Many parts of Switzerland are subject to a warm, dry wind coming down from the mountains: the Föhn. It blows from the south over a large part of Switzerland, leading to sudden increases in temperature, and it's more frequent in spring and autumn. On the contrary, in the Canton of Ticino, which is on the southern side, the Föhn effect is caused by the north wind, so this area is often relatively warm and dry when the rest of the country is under the grip of cold waves.

Switzerland can also be affected by windstorms coming from the Atlantic. During the most intense storms, gusts of wind can exceed 100 km/h (62 mph) in the cities of the highlands, and even more so on the mountain ridges. For example, important storms were Vivian, which occurred on February 27, 1990, Lothar, which occurred on December 26, 1999, and Burglind, which occurred in early January 2018.

When to go



The best time to visit Switzerland runs from late spring to early autumn (May to September).
Late winter and early spring (February-March) are recommended for a ski holiday, since the days are longer than in December and January. In some resorts located at high altitude, you can ski even in summer.
If you want to go hiking in the mountains, summer is a good time, although thunderstorms erupt quite frequently in the afternoon.

What to pack



In winter: pack warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a hat, a scarf, gloves, and a raincoat or umbrella.
In summer: pack light clothes, T-shirts and shorts, but also long pants, a jacket and a sweater for the evening and for cooler days; a raincoat or umbrella. For the mountains, bring hiking shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses; add warmer clothes for the highest peaks.

Climate data - Switzerland


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Basel (300 meters)
Basel, location on the map
Basel, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.00361013151511830
Max temp.57121620242625211596
Precip.5045506510085908570756565
Prec. days98910121010108101011
Humidity84%79%71%67%69%69%68%71%77%83%85%86%
Day length910121415161614121198
Sun hours234667876422

Bern (550 meters)
Bern, location on the map
Bern, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-3037111313961-2
Max temp.46111519232525201484
Precip.6055658011510011011090858080
Prec. days1091010121111119101010
Humidity86%79%71%68%69%68%67%71%77%83%87%88%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours235667876422

Davos (1,600 meters)
Davos, location on the map
Davos, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-9-9-5-2268841-4-7
Max temp.015813171918141151
Precip.7055605590130140150100757570
Prec. days9899121414141091010
Humidity68%71%73%79%80%80%78%78%75%69%69%66%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours445556665533

Freiburg (600 meters)
Freiburg, location on the map
Freiburg, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-2038111313961-2
Max temp.45101418222424191484
Precip.5050607511010010510585857065
Prec. days981010121110119101010

Geneva (400 meters)
Geneva, location on the map
Geneva, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-1-125913151411720
Max temp.571216202427262116106
Precip.705560657580808085909090
Prec. days10889109888101010
Humidity82%75%68%64%67%64%62%65%73%80%82%83%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours245678986422

Jungfraujoch (3,580 meters)
Jungfraujoch, location on the map
Jungfraujoch, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-16-16-14-12-8-4-2-2-5-7-12-14
Max temp.-10-10-9-6-22340-2-6-9
Sun hours445556666543

Kreuzlingen (400 meters)
Kreuzlingen, location on the map
Kreuzlingen, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-1-1251013151511730
Max temp.46111620242625201584
Precip.4545506090100959570606065
Prec. days99991011121199911
Humidity84%82%76%64%63%68%69%64%75%82%87%87%
Day length910121415161614121198
Sun hours235678886321

La Brévine (1,045 meters)
La Brévine, location on the map
La Brévine, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-9-10-5-2257631-4-8
Max temp.1261115192121161262
Precip.85808595130120130120115115110115
Prec. days121111121412121111121213

Lausanne (525 meters)
Lausanne, location on the map
Lausanne, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.11471114161613942
Max temp.56101519232524201595
Precip.75657085115105105110100110100100
Prec. days10899121010109101011
Sun hours245678886432

Locarno
Locarno, location on the map
Locarno, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.125812161817141052
Max temp.791417212527272217118
Precip.70659516518518016520519020021085
Prec. days54610111091099106
Humidity69%73%71%76%78%77%76%78%80%78%75%70%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours456678987544

Lucerne (435 meters)
Lucerne, location on the map
Lucerne, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-2-22591315141172-1
Max temp.46111519232524201485
Precip.55607095140155155160105857575
Prec. days10811111313131310101010
Humidity82%78%73%71%73%73%72%76%79%82%82%82%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours234566765321

Lugano (270 meters)
Lugano, location on the map
Lugano, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.125912161818141062
Max temp.791417212527272217128
Precip.70607514017516516015517014517075
Prec. days65610121081099106
Humidity74%66%60%63%67%66%64%68%73%80%77%76%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours456668886544

Neuchâtel (430 meters)
Neuchâtel, location on the map
Neuchâtel, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.00361014161512841
Max temp.46111519232525201485
Precip.7060657085859510080858090
Prec. days10999121010108101010
Humidity81%75%67%63%66%65%63%66%72%80%82%83%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours235668886321

Saentis (2,500 meters)
Saentis, location on the map
Saentis, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-9-10-8-5-12441-1-6-8
Max temp.-4-5-3-13791064-1-3
Precip.13514013595653015104060120165
Prec. days131214131516161613121215
Sun hours455555565544

Samedan (1,705 meters)
Samedan, location on the map
Samedan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-16-16-10-403551-3-8-13
Max temp.-10481317191915104-1
Precip.3020253565908510075757035
Prec. days544691111118886
Sun hours445556665433

Sion (490 meters)
Sion, location on the map
Sion, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-22591314141061-3
Max temp.581418222627262217105
Precip.504035355050656040405070
Prec. days766587886678
Humidity77%69%60%56%60%60%61%64%69%74%76%80%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours356778987532

St Gallen (650 meters)
St Gallen, location on the map
St Gallen, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-2-21481214141062-2
Max temp.3481216202221171274
Precip.6565851051551701751851401059590
Prec. days11912111414131312101012
Sun hours234667775322

Zermatt (1,600 meters)
Zermatt, location on the map
Zermatt, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-7-7-4-1378851-3-6
Max temp.1261014182020151152
Precip.403035407570607050556545
Prec. days665610109107777
Sun hours345556665433

Zurich (550 meters)
Zurich, location on the map
Zurich, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-1-125913141411730
Max temp.35101519222424191484
Precip.6060708013012513012090858085
Prec. days10910111312121210101011
Humidity84%79%72%67%70%70%69%73%78%85%87%86%
Day length910121415161614121198
Sun hours235667775422



See also the temperatures month by month

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 See also (cities or regions):
 Basel
 Bern
 Davos
 Freiburg
 Geneva
 Kreuzlingen
 Lausanne
 Locarno
 Lucerne
 Others (expand)
 Lugano
 Neuchâtel
 Sion
 Zermatt
 Zurich

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