Climate - Bern (Switzerland)

The climate of Bern is moderately continental, with cold winters and warm summers.
The city, the federal capital of Switzerland, is located in the Mittelland, the Swiss plateau, at an altitude of 540 meters (1,750 feet).
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 -15 °C (5 °F) or even below. The coldest record is -24 °C (-11.2 °F) and was set in January 1985.
On average, 53 cm (21 in) of snow fall per year.
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 37 °C (98.6 °F) and was set in late June and in July 2019.

Best Time

The best time to visit Bern 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.

Bern - Climate data

In Bern, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 0.6 °C (33.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 18.9 °C (65.9 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Bern, precipitation amounts to 1025 millimeters (40.4 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 55 mm (2.2 in) in the driest month (February) to 115 mm (4.5 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
In Bern, there are on average around 1790 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Bern - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Bern is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.6 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -2.5 °C (27.4 °F) and a maximum of 3.8 °C (38.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13 °F). However, it dropped to -19 °C (-2.2 °F) in January 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (53 °F). However, it reached 17 °C (62.6 °F) in January 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In February, the weather in Bern is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.7 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -2.6 °C (27.4 °F) and a maximum of 5.9 °C (42.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21 °C (-5.8 °F) in February 1999.
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 February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In March, the weather in Bern is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.5 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 0.3 °C (32.5 °F) and a maximum of 10.7 °C (51.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21 °F). However, it dropped to -16 °C (3.2 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% 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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In April, the weather in Bern is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 3 °C (37.4 °F) and a maximum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In May, the weather in Bern is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.2 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.2 °F) and a maximum of 18.9 °C (66.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in May 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in May 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In June, the weather in Bern is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.9 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 22.7 °C (72.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in June 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 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 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Bern is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.9 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 12.8 °C (55.1 °F) and a maximum of 24.9 °C (76.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In August, the weather in Bern is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.6 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.7 °F) and a maximum of 24.6 °C (76.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in August 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In September, the weather in Bern is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.3 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9 °C (48.1 °F) and a maximum of 19.7 °C (67.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In October, the weather in Bern is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.0 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) and a maximum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in October 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In November, the weather in Bern is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.7 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) and a maximum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -16 °C (3.2 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 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 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In December, the weather in Bern is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.2 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) and a maximum of 4.2 °C (39.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -18 °C (-0.4 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 17 °C (62.6 °F) in December 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 20% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).