Weather in Zurich Switzerland – The Climate and Local Weather Report

The weather in Zurich Switzerland is characterized by warm winds called (Foehn) that mostly blow in from the Atlantic Ocean. For this reason, it causes the climate to be milder than in other locations on the same latitude.

On clear days with good visibility, you can see the snow-covered "Glarner Alps" on the Horizon in the far distance.

The weather in Zurich Switzerland has four distinct seasons. The winter months are from December to February and sometimes even until March. Spring usually starts in March and lasts until May. The summer commences in June until August and the fall from September to late November.

Summer Weather in Zurich

The average summer temperature lies at around 22° - 25°C (72° - 77°F). However, there are days when daytime temperatures can reach over 35°C (95°F). So, you see that it can get pretty hot during the summer time. To cool off, you can always go for a swim into Zurich’s clean Limmat River or Lake Zurich.

In the summer, the Zurich weather has a pleasant humidity level. But it is still more humid than in the south, like the Valais/Wallis region or the Engadin valley for example. As we all know, the climate is going crazy all over the world, and the weather in Zurich Switzerland is no different. One summer it might be more cloudy, cold and rainy and the next, it might be so hot and without rain for weeks.

Fall Weather in Zurich

In early September, the temperature is starting to drop. It is still very pleasant, just a little cooler. Then, in the months of October and November, it gets cloudy and those low hanging clouds start to work on some people’s depression.

Around that time, you can’t always see the blue skies, sometimes for days. Taking a journey to Zurich’s local mountain "Uetliberg" where the sun is shining a little more because it is above the clouds will certainly help. And when you see the mountains covered in white in the far distance, you will know that the winter is on its way.

Winter Weather in Zurich

In the wintertime, the weather in Zurich Switzerland undergoes a dramatic change. Once the thermometer falls below 0°C (32°F), the water in the fountains will start to freeze up. By then, even the city is covered with a sprinkling of snow like icing sugar. The city of Zurich usually does not get a lot a snow despite the temperature generally fluctuating between -2 and 3.5°C (28 – 38°F).

During November and December, you get those grey rainy and foggy days and sometimes it may even get cold and snowy. The month of January is the coldest when temperatures can drop down to -15°C (5°F) and stay that way for a couple of weeks. Of course cold temperatures also have advantages, it brings sunny weather.

Therefore, you may definitely need warmer clothes. And if you are not used to the cold at all, you should get thermal clothes. I would say that you probably also need thermal underwear, a hat that covers your ears or some ear protectors and a scarf. You should also get padded shoes, preferably anti-water.

Spring Weather in Zurich

The first signs of spring can appear as early as February but usually it is in March. The month of April always brings back snow with lots of rain continuing through May.

The Climate in Zurich

The Zurich weather is similar to other cities in Northern Switzerland but varies greatly from other Swiss locations. The sun shines for around 1’482 hours a year. This makes the climate in Zurich a less ideal place to live when we only talk about the weather. In compare, the average amount of sunshine per year in Switzerland is 1700 hours and most of the Valais/Wallis region gets as much as 2300 hours.

It rains throughout the year with an average rainfall of around 108 cm (42.5 inches) per year. That is actually not very high in compare to Rocher de Naye above Montreux with 260 cm (102.4 inches) a year. On the other hand, in most of the region in the Valais/Wallis, it rains only about 53 cm (21 inches) a year.

For most people, the time from early June to mid September is probably the best to visit Zurich. But if you do not mind the winter, December always brings that magic Christmas feeling through the city of Zurich. You can admire Christmas markets in many places of the city and see the special Christmas lighting of that period, especially on the famous Bahnhofstrasse.

Return from Weather in Zurich Switzerland to Weather in Switzerland

Return from Weather in Zurich Switzerland to High-End Travel Switzerland Home Pagea>