Researchers from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in the US have forecast that Swiss cities and cantons are in for a warm autumn and a mild winter this year. The forecast of warm weather, despite being clear evidence of climate change, may be a relief for the government and residents of Switzerland, as it reduces the chance of an energy shortage this winter.
In the report given to SonntagsZeitung, the NCEP predicted that Switzerland would see a very warm autumn and a mild winter this year. The institute, which successfully predicted the excessive heatwaves the country experienced this summer, said that the warm weather will continue until the end of February.
This forecast was echoed by MeteoSwiss, with expert Stephan Bade telling NZZ am Sonntag, "The seasonal forecast from October to December tends to indicate a mean temperature above the average of the last 30 years for the whole of Switzerland." However, both MeteoSwiss and the NCEP admitted that long-term forecasting in Europe is a challenge.
20 minuten noted that while this is bad news for Swiss ski resorts, a warmer winter could help Switzerland avoid power shortages this winter. With the government already announcing its energy saving plan, less consumption during the colder months could help the country avoid the crisis altogether.
This is backed up by a new report by SonntagsZeitung, which found that Switzerland consumed less energy in every single winter that saw above-average temperatures. In comparison, in the coldest winter analysed, energy providers had to supply extra electricity that was the equivalent of what 700.000 households consume in a whole year.
Another positive is that the warm forecast also extends to Germany. As most gas is delivered to Switzerland via the federal republic, if German families and households use the heating less, they are more likely to pass the gas on to Switzerland.