Climate Switzerland
Straw hats or woolly caps? Switzerland's climate is sure to surprise you! The country's unique geography offers a climate that varies according to four main climatic regions: the Jura, the Alps, the Plateau and the Ticino. The climate is continental. From June to September, average temperatures range from 18°C to 28°C, and vary with altitude. You can lose up to 6°C for every 1,000 m of ascent. Summer is a great time to discover Switzerland, as you won't suffer from the heat and hiking is done in pleasant temperatures. Autumn is a wonderful time of year, with mild temperatures on the Plateau and near the lakes. Winter, of course, is more rigorous and allows for all kinds of Nordic activities: from fondue tasting in igloos to diving in icy lakes and skiing in one of the 200 resorts and 7,123 km of pistes.
Alpine country with climatic variations
Switzerland's climate varies from region to region. The relief and the Alps predominate and influence a continental climate, yet some regions have a much milder climate. The Jura Arc: in summer, the climate is ideal for walking and cycling, and in winter, cross-country skiing is possible on the frozen lakes of the Vallée de Joux. It's a region that's particularly popular with families.
On the Plateau, defined as the diagonal between Lake Geneva to the southwest and Lake Constance to the northeast, climatic conditions are neither too hot nor too cold, with little rainfall. Two-thirds of the population live in this area. The lake regions of the Plateau are the most privileged, which is why many vineyards are planted here, such as Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital city of Berne, situated 500 m above sea level on the Plateau, enjoys an average temperature of 0°C in winter and 18.5°C in summer. Zurich records similar averages, with cloudy days in winter. Geneva, further west and on the shores of Lake Geneva, has a milder climate. Snowfalls are rare, and summers are warm and sunny. Thanks to its large body of water, Lake Geneva moderates the region, and in winter gives back the heat stored during the summer. Lausanne and Montreux in particular enjoy a microclimate that softens temperatures. In fact, the region is known as the "Vaud Riviera", where the mild climate favors lush Mediterranean vegetation, with vineyards, fruit trees and palm trees lining the promenades..
The Alps (60% of the territory) are a collection of microclimates ranging from Mediterranean to arctic. The Alps are the region of choice for winter sports. From family resorts like Champéry in the Valais to the chicest like Saint-Moritz in Graubünden or the highest like Zermatt (3,899 m), no fewer than 346 resorts welcome you. A crazy experience is to hit the powder in summer. Skiing on the glaciers of the Alps is possible all year round. Another special feature of the Alps is the wind. The föhn, a local wind, sweeps down the mountains. Warm and dry, it causes the snow to melt quickly in spring and favors crop cultivation. It blows mainly in spring and autumn and can exceed 150 km/h. The bise or local mistral, on the other hand, is a northerly wind that blows frequently in spring and winter and can freeze lake pontoons. According to local sayings, it usually blows in uninterrupted gusts for three, six or nine days at a time.
Finally, Ticino in the south of the country enjoys a warmer climate and a Mediterranean-influenced atmosphere. Here, the Alps act as a barrier. It enjoys almost 2,300 hours of sunshine a year, compared with 1,700 in Zurich and 1,600 in Turin, which is located in Italy. The climate is mild and the vegetation along the lakes is similar to that of southern countries. Italian is spoken, specialities are tasted and, above all, the terraces are invaded late into the season. But beware in summer, when thunderstorms are common in the evenings, and autumn can be rainy.
Switzerland, the land of ice cream cones and apricots!
49 peaks over 4,000 m, including 39 in the Valais and 9 in the Bernese Alps: Switzerland is first and foremost known as an Alpine country, and since the 18th century, it has never ceased to seduce mountaineers from all over the world. Its mountain climate favors eternal snow, and skiing on glaciers is possible in summer. Swiss tourism is mainly based on resorts and winter sports. Apricots in the heart of the Alps? You're not dreaming: Switzerland also has its own Rhone Valley with fruit trees and vineyards, thanks to the microclimate found in the canton of Valais. The special feature of the central Valais is that it is surrounded by high mountains that protect it from maritime depressions. Sunny days and cool nights are ideal for growing fruit trees and vines. The Rhone River provides abundant water for these fertile, well-exposed soils.
Global warming
20,000 years ago, Switzerland was a landscape of ice. Yet, more than anywhere else, the country is particularly affected by climate change. Since the pre-industrial era, the average temperature here has risen by almost 2°C, twice the global average. Could glaciers disappear? It's alarming and very real... Glaciers that have been there for thousands of years are going to disappear, and this is irreversible. They are retreating every year, and the Paris agreements state that by 2100 only 48 of Switzerland's 1,400 glaciers will survive. Europe's largest glacier (23 km), the Aletsch in the Bernese Alps, will lose 90% of its current surface area. The Rhône glacier has lost 350 m in thickness since 1850, and 40 m in the last ten years. Although this is undeniable, experimental means are being put in place to slow glacier melt. Geotextile protective tarpaulins are sometimes laid over glacier tongues to insulate them from UV rays. These insulating tarpaulins do little to slow the melting process, but they still play a protective role. To help you understand the life of a glacier, the Aquatis museum in Lausanne provides an educational description of the Rhône glacier.
Faced with this increase in potential dangers due to global warming, awareness is growing in Switzerland. Tourism is moving towards more sustainable development, and encouraging labels and partners to take more responsible action.
