Summer weather to arrive in Switzerland just in time for Ascension weekend

After a dim, damp and chilly few weeks, Switzerland is finally set to get a good dose of summer weather just in time for the Ascension weekend. Starting on Friday, people across the cantons will be treated to temperatures in the high 20s, with bright sunshine soon to follow.

Weather in Switzerland warms up in time for the holidays

In a marked change from previous years, the weather in Switzerland has given the darling buds of May a good soaking in 2025, with the month characterised by damp, cool and cloudy conditions with only a few days of sunshine. However, as the month comes to a close, the country will finally see days of consistent sunshine and warm temperatures.

Just in time for the Ascension holiday on June 29, the sunshine will start to peek out from the clouds, with conditions warming to between 20 and 27 degrees celsius. In what will be good news for those using a bridging day to take a long weekend, by Friday the clouds will give way to bright sunshine across the country, with the mercury climbing as high as 27 degrees in some places.

Summer weather here to stay, say forecasters

Though no part of Switzerland will be starved for sunshine, the warmest temperatures can be found in Valais, Vaud and Geneva. Some clouds will set in on Saturday, but tropical temperatures of up to 30 degrees will still arrive, especially in Valais, the Lake Geneva region and Canton Zurich - perhaps a good opportunity for a barbeque or to take a first dip in the lake!

While Sunday and Monday may bring some rain showers, MeteoSwiss noted that the anticyclonic conditions typical of a Swiss summer are already setting in. This is the phenomenon where Switzerland sees days of hot, clear conditions, which are suddenly brought to an end by isolated showers and thunderstorms, cooling the country down and restarting the cycle anew.

Europe is in for a scorching summer

As to how the rest of summer will turn out, long-term forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts predict that the effects of climate change will be on full display in Europe this year. They predict that June, July and August will be significantly hotter than the 10-year average, with only Ireland, southern France and the Iberian peninsula being spared.

This raises the prospect of heatwaves and drought in Switzerland, with MeteoNews noting that the country has seen 15 percent less rainfall than usual in 2025 so far. Though May has helped top up the mountains and lakes, and southern regions have seen more rain than usual, low water levels, most notably in Lake Constance, are likely to become a regular feature of the summer season.