Switzerland Weather
Switzerland Weather and Climate…
For such a small country, Switzerland offers an astonishing variety of climates: the chilly mountain weather is quite diverse from the milder temperatures encountered near Lake Geneva or the balmy Swiss-Italian Lake District. The varied seasons that Switzerland experiences are all lovely: Spring bringing forth its burst of colours, blooming wildflowers and glorious weather, Summer with its mild and cheery sunshine, Autumn and its mellowing vineyards with their red and gold and Winter, wrapping villages in blankets of snow.
The climate can therefore be very diverse, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius in July at low levels of altitude and snow in the Alps. On the flip side, it can be snowing heavily in early October in the west in Graubunden but quite pleasant in Basel in the east. Wherever and whenever you go to Switzerland, you are likely to encounter many climate changes although generally, in the summer months, you can expect the lower altitudes to be pleasantly warm during the day. Jura is the coldest area which can be extremely cold in winter. Ticino, in the south has a hot Mediterranean climate but Switzerland generally has a central European climate with daytime temperatures hovering between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius in the summer and -2 to 7 degrees Celsius in winter.
The cities of Geneva, Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Basel and Lugano and the smaller regional towns are best visited in the summer months of June, July, August and September as at other times of the year, they can get quite chilly and receive their own generous share of snow in the winter. With its glittering sunshine and frozen lakes and rivers, the cities can also be a romantic winter wonderland where you also are spared from the rush to find accommodation that can happen during the more popular summertime. Spring and autumn are quieter and excellent seasons for exploring the countryside as the mountains are particularly beautiful in the spring, with blooming wild flowers. The folk festivals also take place usually in spring or autumn. However, watch out for the Fohn, a hot and dry wind that sweeps down into the valleys and can be uncomfortable as it strikes most frequently in spring and autumn.
The two main seasons for winter sports run from June to October and from mid-December to mid-April. Between these times, most mountain resorts close down altogether. In the ski resorts, a good covering of snow and ice is expected till the end of March, with the high season being Christmas and New Year and February to mid-April. The Easter holiday weeks are also a very crowded period on the slopes. The best-known Alpine region is the Bernese Oberland focused around the tourist hub of Interlaken, while to the south, in Valais, lie Verbier, Crans-Montana and at the foot of the emblematic Matterhorn is Zermatt. Justifiably popular, all these places boast some of the west winter skiing and summer hiking in Europe. For less touristy regions, head to the Jura mountains in the northwest where in the summer, the gorgeous landscape is ideal for long lonely walks and bike rides. The wild valleys of Alto Ticino in the south lace the southern foothills of the Alps and also offer scenic and less-known hiking trails perfect for walks.
