Climate - Lucerne (Switzerland)

The climate of Lucerne is moderately continental, with cold winters and warm summers.
Lucerne is the capital of the canton of the same name and is located in the center of Switzerland, on the shores of the Lake of the Four Cantons, which are located at 435 meters (1,430 feet). Zurich is located about 40 km (25 mi) to the north-east.
In autumn and spring, and sometimes even in winter, a foehn-type wind can blow from the south, ie from the Alps. In summer, on the other hand, there can be wind gusts during thunderstorms.
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. On average, 66 cm (26 in) of snow fall per year.
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 -21.8 °C (-7.2 °F) and was set in February 1956.
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 37.2 °C (99 °F) and was set in July 1947.

Best Time

The best time to visit Lucerne 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.

Lucerne - Climate data

In Lucerne, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Lucerne, precipitation amounts to 1225 millimeters (48.2 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 55 mm (2.2 in) in the driest month (January) to 160 mm (6.3 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
In Lucerne, there are on average around 1520 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Lucerne - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Lucerne is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.3 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -1.5 °C (29.3 °F) and a maximum of 4.1 °C (39.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -11.6 °C (11.1 °F) in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in January 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 18% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In February, the weather in Lucerne is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.1 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -1.6 °C (29.1 °F) and a maximum of 5.8 °C (42.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -13.8 °C (7.2 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it reached 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 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 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In March, the weather in Lucerne is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 1.5 °C (34.8 °F) and a maximum of 10.9 °C (51.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.5 °C (5.9 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) in March 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 11 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 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In April, the weather in Lucerne is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.0 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.7 °F) and a maximum of 15.2 °C (59.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -5.8 °C (21.6 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 29.1 °C (84.4 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 11 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 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In May, the weather in Lucerne is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.3 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (66.9 °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 (32.4 °F) in May 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in May 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In June, the weather in Lucerne is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.9 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) and a maximum of 23 °C (73.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 155 mm (6.1 in), distributed over 13 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 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Lucerne is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 14.6 °C (58.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.9 °C (76.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 155 mm (6.1 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In August, the weather in Lucerne is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (58 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 35.8 °C (96.4 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 160 mm (6.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In September, the weather in Lucerne is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.2 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) and a maximum of 19.6 °C (67.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.8 °C (37 °F) in September 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in September 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In October, the weather in Lucerne is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.7 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.6 °F) and a maximum of 14.4 °C (57.8 °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 -4.5 °C (23.9 °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 °F). However, it reached 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) in October 2009.
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 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In November, the weather in Lucerne is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.2 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (36 °F) and a maximum of 8.2 °C (46.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -9.1 °C (15.6 °F) in November 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 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 19% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In December, the weather in Lucerne is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.9 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) and a maximum of 4.6 °C (40.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.1 °C (3 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) in December 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 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 15% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.