Weather in Switzerland - The Swiss Weather is Much Better Than You might Expect

The weather in Switzerland is strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Very often, the westerly winds bring moist and mild maritime air into Switzerland.

This means that during the winter, this air has a warming effect and in the summer a cooling effect. It ensures that there is enough precipitation in most regions all year around. Therefore, the Swiss Alps act as a climate barrier between Southern and Northern Switzerland. Southern Switzerland receives indeed much milder winters than the Northern part because the Mediterranean Sea mainly influences it.

For your short-term vacation needs, here is the three day weather in Switzerland forecast, as well as the current weather...

The Central Alps - The Driest Climate in Switzerland

The Swiss Alps generate many different climate regions on their own. Especially the valleys in the central Alps have their own distinct climate. These valleys are shielded against precipitation from both the south and the north, which leads to dry conditions. This is the case in the Valais region in the southwest where I live and in the Engadin region in southeastern Switzerland.

The Valais region gets an average precipitation amount of 500 to 600 mm/year (19 – 23 inches). That compares to the Engadin region, which receives only slightly more between 600 to 700 mm/year (23 – 27 inches). The lowlands in the north get an average of 1000 to 1500 mm/year (39 – 59 inches).

In the Southern region (Ticino area), a much higher average precipitation amount of about 2000 mm/year (78 inches) is observed. Everywhere, except for the Valais region, the amount of rainfall is approximately twice as large in the summer as in the wintertime.

Where Do You Find the Snow?

The weather in Switzerland is comfortable, which means that the winters are not very cold and it is certainly not snow covered everywhere. In fact, winter precipitation that occurs in the form of snow is observed mostly at altitudes above 1200 m (3937 ft) at sea level.

Therefore, in cities and regions in the lowlands like the regions of Zurich, Geneva or Basel etc., it is not snowing very often. However, during the wintertime the weather in Zurich Switzerland has very often fog as do also the cities of Geneva and Basel.

Even in the Valais region, the snow stays mostly up in the side valleys. It is rare that we get snow down in the Rhone valley and if we do, the well-known Foehn (cross-Alpine wind flow) will melt it away very fast. Foehn winds occur especially in the time between autumn and spring.

Temperatures – from Cold to Mediterranean

As an Alpine country, the temperatures in Switzerland vary with altitude. The average daytime temperature range during July and August in the northern lowlands is approximately 18°C (65°F) and 1°C (33.8°F) in January.

In milder Southern part of Switzerland, the average temperatures are 2-3°C higher. In the Valais and Ticino region, the temperatures during the summer are regularly from 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F) and can to as high as 36°C (96°F).

Once you go to higher altitudes to approximately 1500 m (5000 ft), the temperature drops so that the average in July is merely 11°C (51.8°F) and about -5°C (23°F) in January.

The warmest place with an annual mean temperature of 12°C (53.6°F) is Locarno. In fact, the Southern Ticino region has a Mediterranean climate with palms growing like in the tropics. On the other hand, the coldest place is the well-known Jungfraujoch located at 3580 m (11745 ft) a.s.l. with an annual mean temperature of only -7.5°C. Click here to read more about the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe.

The small town of Grono by Locarno in Southern Switzerland achieved the highest temperature is that has ever been recorded. On August 11th 2003, the thermometer recorded +41.5°C (106.7°F). On January 12th 1987, the coldest temperature ever recorded was -41.8°C (-43.2°F) on January 12th 1987 in La Brévine in the Jura Mountains.

A good time to travel Switzerland and enjoy some of the attractions is from May to mid October. Click here to discover the most interesting Switzerland Attractions.

November and April are usually the worst months to visit. Many people are coming in the wintertime for the ski season, which starts in mid December and goes until the end of March. In the mountains usually above 1200 m, it is mostly sunny. However, the weather in Switzerland makes some people living in the Northern part disappear for awhile. They either head to the south of Switzerland or take a long vacation in a warmer climate because in the winter the days are often cloudy and cold.

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