Switzerland Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, and Liechtenstein
This month in numbers
Switzerland experienced its 2nd warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 16.76°C, a significant anomaly of +5.8°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. This follows a trend, as the April–June 2026 period also ranked as the 2nd warmest on record, at 10.98°C, an anomaly of +3.8°C. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June on record for land temperatures, and the April–June period ranked as the 2nd warmest globally.
What changed
Switzerland's exceptionally warm June placed it as the warmest country out of 234 regions for the 1-month anomaly, with a +5.82°C difference from the baseline. This trend extends to the 3-month anomaly, where Switzerland ranked 4th warmest globally, at +3.81°C. The broader European region also experienced its hottest June on record, with Western Europe seeing its warmest June on record. The country's glaciers have also been significantly impacted, with "Glacier Loss Day" arriving on June 29th, meaning all snow reserves were exhausted, and any further melt directly reduced the glacier's mass. This pattern of glacier melt is similar to 2022, which was the worst year on record for Swiss glaciers.
What’s driving change?
The extreme warmth in Switzerland during June was driven by a significant heatwave that impacted much of Western Europe. This heatwave led to several new temperature records across Switzerland, including Basel reaching 39°C, the highest June temperature ever recorded in German-speaking Switzerland. The heat also accelerated vegetation growth, with lime trees flowering ten days earlier than average. Alongside the heat, the month was generally drier and sunnier than average, with some regions receiving less than 40% of their usual rainfall, leading to the highest drought warning level for a large part of the country. This combination of heat and drought is exacerbated by , as mountains are warming faster than lowlands. The developing El Niño conditions are also contributing to global temperature and rainfall patterns, increasing the risk of heatwaves.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts project a nearly universal dominance of above-normal temperatures in nearly all parts of the globe for the June-July-August season, with El Niño expected to strengthen into the 2026-2027 winter.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Switzerland
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Switzerland – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – Switzerland
Our World in Data / NOAA - 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 (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Headline: anomaly vs the 1961–1990 mean. Small figure: the actual value. Rank: position in the full record (1st = highest ever). Record: highest (or lowest) value on record with its year.
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.
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.
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.