Switzerland Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, and Liechtenstein
Summary
Switzerland has just endured its hottest May to July period since records began in 1940, as an extraordinary stretch of summer heat gripped the Alpine nation. The period culminated in the 2nd warmest July on record, driven by severe heatwaves that brought near 40°C heat to northern lowlands and pushed alpine river temperatures so high that nuclear power generation was curtailed. Across all 232 regions tracked globally, Switzerland recorded the highest 3-month temperature anomaly on Earth over this period. Above-average warmth is expected to continue into autumn.
This month in numbers
The average temperature for July 2026 reached 17.99°C, standing 4.2°C above the 1961-1990 baseline. This makes it the 2nd warmest July in 87 years of record-keeping, surpassed only by the record set in 2015 at 18.18°C. For the 3-month May to July period, temperatures averaged 14.91°C, which is 4.2°C above normal and sets a new all-time record for the season. Globally, land temperatures for the same 3-month stretch ranked 2nd warmest on record.
What changed
Switzerland led the entire world in regional heat anomalies over May to July, ranking 1st out of 232 global territories with a 3-month anomaly of +4.2°C. For July alone, Switzerland ranked 4th globally and 2nd within Europe, trailing only France. The country's monthly anomaly exceeded the broader European group mean of +2.25°C by 1.97°C. This exceptional warmth builds on a relentless multi-year trend; 2025 was the 5th warmest full year on record for Switzerland, while long-term warming has now reached +2.22°C above baseline.
What’s driving change?
The unprecedented seasonal warmth across Switzerland was propelled by persistent and that locked hot, dry air masses over Central Europe. Because , continental interiors heat up rapidly under sustained . Furthermore, mountain environments like the Swiss Alps experience , where retreating snow and ice expose darker rock surfaces that absorb more solar radiation and accelerate warming.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts indicate that above-average temperatures and drier conditions are likely to persist across Central Europe over the coming months.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – Global
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance (countries & continents) · Met Office (UK) · US states & climate regions. Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Switzerland
Köppen Dfb · ContinentalSwitzerland has a continental climate (Köppen Dfb: Humid continental - warm summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 15.9°C, while January is the coldest at -3.0°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1227mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Switzerland
Right axis: everything else standardized to standard deviations (σ) from its own average, since mm/hours/days aren't directly comparable to °C or to each other.
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Heatwave Days – Switzerland
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI heatwave measure: days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Switzerland
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Monthly Temperature – Switzerland
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Records – Switzerland
Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfb · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Switzerland. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (4.1°C, from 1940–1969); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 19.9°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+3.6°C).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Switzerland
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Country-level temperature anomaly, sourced from Copernicus ERA5 and Hadley HadCRUT5.
Annual country and global CO₂ emissions, from the Global Carbon Project.
Monthly rainfall - Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD) preferred, World Bank CCKP/CRU TS fallback where GPCC lacks direct coverage.
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Switzerland changing?
Switzerland is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Switzerland?
Switzerland has a continental climate (Köppen Dfb: Humid continental - warm summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 15.9°C, while January is the coldest at -3.0°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1227mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Switzerland come from?
Climate data for Switzerland comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Switzerland climate data cover?
The Switzerland climate profile covers Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Switzerland
How often is the Switzerland climate update refreshed?
The Switzerland climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Switzerland climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Switzerland climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.