Switzerland weather

Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Switzerland We show the climate in Switzerland by comparing the average weather in 3 representative places: You can add or remove cities to customize the report to your liking. See You can drill down to a specific season, month, and even day by clicking the graphs or using the navigation panel. This report illustrates the typical weather for Zürich, Genève, and Bern year round, based on a statistical analysis of historical hourly weather reports and model reconstructions from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2016. The details of the data sources used on this page vary between places and are discussed in detail on each place's dedicated page: • • • Disclaimer The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data is prone to errors, outages, and other defects. We assume no responsibility for any decisions made on the basis of the content presented on this site. We draw particular cautious attention to our reliance on the MERRA-2 model-based reconstructions for a number of important data series. While having the tremendous advantages of temporal and spatial completeness, these reconstructions: (1) are based on computer models that may have model-based errors, (2) are coarsely sampled on a 50 km grid and are therefore unable to reconstruct the local variations of many microclimates, and (3) have particular difficulty with the weather in some coastal areas, ...

The weather in the Alps: anything is possible Nowhere the weather is more changeable than in the mountains. The Swiss Alps are the border between the cooler northern European climate and the warmer southern European climate. The Alps often form the separation between different kinds of weather. At the same time, cooler and warmer types of weather can be found in Switzerland. At a regional level this is a known phenomenon too. While the sun is shining in one valley, it may be raining at the other side of the mountain. The weather may also clear up very fast. A cloudy, drizzly morning does not necessarily have to be a sign for a full day of bad weather. There may be a cloudless sky within the hour. It goes the other way around as well: on a beautiful day it may suddenly become cloudy and rainy. This certainly is something to take into account. Temperature Temperatures vary a lot by season, location and elevation. Still, On average, the areas north of the Alps are cooler than the areas south of the Alps. South facing slopes receive more sunshine and are warmer than north facing slopes. Wide valleys and lakes receive more sunshine than narrow valleys. Elevation is what influences the temperature most. Every 100 m (328 ft) of gaining height can cause temperature drops of 0.7-1.0 °C (1.8 F). On mountain tops it may be chilly even in summer and you may encounter thick layers of snow. In low sunny areas like • Warmest months: July and August • Warmest areas: Lake Geneva, the Rhône...

The best time to visit Switzerland is between April and October, though winter sports enthusiasts may prefer December to March. The country has four distinct seasons, each with its own attractions. The spring months of March to May bring Alpine blooms, flowering trees and cows heading out to pasture. In the warmest months of June, July and August summery temperatures prevail, though you’ll rarely get any humidity thanks to the high altitude. This is when locals and visitors alike head to the lake shores, meaning thicker crowds. The wine and fruit harvests dominate the fall months of September to November and from December to February, you’ll find snow, cold and winter sports. In the lowlands, rain most often falls in November and May. Because it’s between the busy summer and winter seasons, these months are when many attractions have limited hours and residents often take their own trips. Alpine wildflowers make Switzerland really lovely in May, but I think I prefer the autumnal brilliance of September, when the forests turn a burnished gold and the mountaintops acquire a dusting of snow. You might even catch an Alpabzug, the annual procession of flower-bedecked cows as they’re led out of the mountains to milder grazing areas for the winter. Aislyn, Europe Specialist Visiting Switzerland in December - January December and January are the coldest, but not the wettest, months of the year. There’s frequently snow, which makes the Christmas markets in Switzerland’s main cities...

°F Majorca 212320 25 Fuerteventura 208272 24 Tenerife 206760 23 Gran Canaria 202048 24 Lanzarote 196487 23 Cape Verde 170635 23 Crete 164986 23 Madeira 148804 22 Algarve 145559 25 Malta 127910 22 Mauritius 125840 24 Maldives 121986 29 Cancun 116256 31 Sunny Beach 96839 21 Bali 94731 26 Corsica 92789 23 Punta cana 87714 31 Zante 81956 22 Malaga 80747 24 Marrakesh 78134 34 Switzerland lies in the south west of Europe, entirely land locked by Switzerland has a long history of neutrality, which has resulted in the country not being involved in a war since 1815. Though in world war two Zürich When visiting Switzerland most people's first stop will be the beautiful lakeside city of Zurich, which at 377,000 people is the largest city in Switzerland and the country's main commercial and cultural centre. With a picturesque setting, beautiful architecture and a quaint feel, Zürich was named the city with the "best quality of life" in the world in both 2006 and 2007. The climate in Zurich is fairly mild, with summer highs only reaching an Zurich lies about 30 km north of the Alps upon the north-western end of Lake Zürich. The city sits amongst wooded hills including the Gubrist, the Hönggerberg, the Käferberg, Adlisberg and the Oettlisberg. So, like the majority of Switzerland is topographic location is influential on the climate. The conditions are moderated by the winds that blow from the Atlantic and off the mountain tops. These mountain winds blow throughout the year but can see ...

Get local insight on destinations all over the world with our 1. Prioritise what you want to see It’s possible to drive the breadth of Switzerland in just a few hours, but this small country packs a lot in, from culture-rich cities and little mountain villages to epic alpine landscapes and vast lakes. Thanks to the smooth transport network, it’s all very accessible, allowing you to explore a city center in the morning, ride across a lake at lunchtime and be up a mountain come the afternoon. So whether you’re coming for a weekend-long city break, or taking your time to explore by train, car or bicycle, Switzerland suits the lot. 2. Pack for all weathers Generally speaking, Switzerland is seasonally predictable, with hot summers and cold winters, but there are always exceptions to keep you on your toes. Violent storms on summer days can catch you off guard, while temperatures can plunge in the mountains at night even after a very hot day – snow isn’t uncommon at altitude in August. Prepare for all eventualities, and always pack a little more clothing than you think you’ll need if you’re exploring alpine areas. The 4. Book hotels and mountain cabins well in advance Switzerland’s a popular place, so accommodation gets booked up well in advance. Always plan ahead, especially if you’re on a budget. That doesn’t just apply to cities and famous resort towns – even a dorm bed in a rustic cabin high in the mountains can be highly sought after in peak season. Don’t forget to pack a s...

Understanding the weather forecast for Switzerland The first thing you need to know is that forecasts for more than 5 days in advance are useless. The weather in the Alps changes quickly and is unpredictable in the long term, and often even in the short term. The forecasts are somewhat reliable for 2 to 3 days ahead of time. The forecasts of the prior evening and the same morning are 75% to 100% accurate, according to our experience. Regardless of the predictions, What if the forecast predicts days of continuous rain? The forecast may show rain every day. That doesn't necessarily mean that it will rain all day long. Often, 90% of the day will just be cloudy or even sunny, and 10% of the time will be rainy. You can spend many hours outdoors on such days. The key is to be flexible. Don't have a fixed itinerary but adjust your plans to the weather, or at least have a backup plan. You can do something else or go to a different region for a day if the forecasts show better weather there. The above is what often happens if rain is predicted. Relentless rain for days in a row is less likely, but not impossible. In that case you can visit a town, a museum or enjoy a train ride. There is still plenty to do and see.