Climate in Basel (Switzerland)

The climate of Basel is moderately continental, with cold winters and warm summers.
The city is located in the far north of Switzerland, on the border with France and Germany, in the canton of Basel-Stadt (Basel-City), in the Rhine valley, 300 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level. We are in a slightly milder area than the Swiss plateau, and where there's a higher chance of sultry days in summer.
The winter is cold and gray. There may be relatively mild periods, when Atlantic currents prevail, and other colder periods, when the temperature drops below freezing.
Sometimes, there can be cold spells, in which temperatures can drop as low as -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. The coldest record is -24 °C (-11.2 °F) and was set in January 1942.
On average, 37 cm (14.5 in) of snow fall per year (after Lugano, Basel is one of the least snowy cities in Switzerland, more or less on the same level as Geneva and Lausanne).
In summer, the temperatures are generally pleasant and lend themselves to outdoor activities, although sometimes there can be rains and thunderstorms.
At times, hot periods can occur, generally of short duration, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 32 °C (90 °F). The highest record is 39 °C (102.2 °F) and was set in July 1952.

Best Time

The best time to visit Basel is from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest of the year. However, we cannot exclude some rain, or a bit of cool weather, or even cold, especially in May and early June.

Basel - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 2.3 °C (36.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 20.3 °C (68.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 850 millimeters (33.5 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest month (February) to 100 mm (3.9 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 1715 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Basel - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.3 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -0.4 °C (31.2 °F) and a maximum of 5.1 °C (41.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -12.2 °C (10 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in January 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.5 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -0.2 °C (31.7 °F) and a maximum of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -19.3 °C (-2.7 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59.5 °F). However, it reached 20.4 °C (68.7 °F) in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (7 mph).

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March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.3 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.8 °F) and a maximum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.7 °C (5.5 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) and a maximum of 16 °C (60.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.8 °C (25.2 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.7 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) and a maximum of 20 °C (68 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.2 °C (31.6 °F) in May 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) in May 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.4 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.8 °C (74.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 35.9 °C (96.6 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15 °C (58.9 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F) and a maximum of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 6 °C (42.8 °F) in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.8 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 11 °C (51.8 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) in September 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 31.9 °C (89.4 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.5 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.6 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 3.2 °C (37.8 °F) and a maximum of 9.2 °C (48.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.8 °C (16.2 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.0 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of 0.3 °C (32.6 °F) and a maximum of 5.7 °C (42.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -16 °C (3.2 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 18.1 °C (64.6 °F) in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).