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Minus 23 degree conditions in parts of Switzerland after bitterly cold night
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Minus 23 degree conditions in parts of Switzerland after bitterly cold night

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© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Dec 21, 2021
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

Switzerland woke to an icy morning on Tuesday, with temperatures in the mountains falling to well below minus 15 degrees Celsius. In the town of La Brévine, the weather was even harsher, dropping to minus 23,2 degrees overnight.

Arctic temperatures in Switzerland

While the Swiss cities of Geneva and Zurich woke up to a relatively warm zero degrees, the situation in the mountains was a totally different story. The weather around Boltingen, Canton Bern, and Visp, Canton Valais, saw the coldest temperatures recorded in the area so far in 2021, with minus 17,1 and 15,8 degrees respectively.

In the town of La Brévine, temperatures dropped even further, to minus 23,2 degrees overnight, similar to temperatures seen on a warm day at the north pole this time of year. The area is famous for its microclimate, which means that, despite being at a low altitude, it experiences some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in Switzerland, the lowest being minus 41,8 degrees Celsius in 1987.

Little chance of a white Christmas in Swiss cities

The icy conditions were also present in the high alpine valleys, leading to dangerous conditions underfoot and for drivers. Underneath a warm fog blanket, Swiss cities saw relatively warm temperatures as their residents woke up, barely dropping below freezing.

The weather on Wednesday and Thursday is set to be cold, but is then due to thaw in time for Christmas. Over the Christmas weekend, the majority of the country will see high temperatures of around 7 to 10 degrees during the day, and a distinct lack of frost overnight, which sadly will mean little chance of a white Christmas in the cities.

By Jan de Boer