Don’t pack away the swimming trucks and sunscreen just yet: after a wet and comparatively mild few days, a new major heatwave is expected to arrive in Switzerland this weekend. It follows news that June 2023 was the sunniest and fifth warmest June since records began in 1864.
To say the weather in Switzerland has been up and down recently would be an understatement. After temperatures broke through the 30-degree celsius barrier in mid-June, people across Canton Vaud - and indeed the rest of the country - were treated to extremely violent thunderstorms which led to the mercury falling back down to the levels we see today.
Despite its unpredictable nature, June 2023 was the fifth warmest June since records began in 1864, according to MeteoSuisse. With a national average of 15,9 degrees celsius, temperatures across Swiss cities were 2,3 degrees hotter than normal, with experts warning that as the effects of climate change increase, hotter, more unstable weather will become more likely in Switzerland at this time of year.
What’s more, many cities in Switzerland saw their sunniest June ever, with Basel recording 320 hours of sunshine in just 30 days, beating the previous record by 20 hours. Lucerne also saw their record smashed with 290 hours of sunshine.
The coming weekend is also set to bring the first heatwave of July to Switzerland, with temperatures of between 30 and 35 degrees forecast for Saturday and Sunday. The hottest conditions are expected to be in areas north of the Alps during Sunday afternoon. When it comes to cities, highs of 33 degrees are expected in Zurich, Geneva and Basel, while the mercury in Lucerne, Bern and central areas will hover around 32 degrees.
Meteorologists explained that the high-pressure area forecast to be over Switzerland on the weekend will force hot air across the country while keeping the chance of thunderstorms low. While this will mean ideal conditions for swimming, parties and festivals, the lack of rainfall has seen water levels in major rivers fall - ships using the Rhine River are already having to sail with reduced loads because of the lack of water.