DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
Swiss news & articles
Temperatures lower than in the North Pole recorded in Switzerland
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Temperatures lower than in the North Pole recorded in Switzerland

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

6 fun things to do on a hot day in Switzerland6 fun things to do on a hot day in Switzerland
When does summer start in Switzerland?When does summer start in Switzerland?
7 best places to see cherry blossom in Switzerland7 best places to see cherry blossom in Switzerland
Taurids and Leonids meteor showers to light up Swiss skies this monthTaurids and Leonids meteor showers to light up Swiss skies this month
10 signs you've been living in Switzerland for too long10 signs you've been living in Switzerland for too long
5 tell-tale signs that autumn has arrived in Switzerland 5 tell-tale signs that autumn has arrived in Switzerland
Warnings issued as a severe heatwave grips SwitzerlandWarnings issued as a severe heatwave grips Switzerland
Fireflies in Switzerland: How to watch nature's light showFireflies in Switzerland: How to watch nature's light show
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Dec 13, 2022
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

After temperatures of -30 degrees celsius were forecast for areas of Switzerland on Monday, the alpine nation braced itself for what was going to be the coldest night of the year so far. Now, according to MeteoNews, a number of areas in Switzerland were colder than the North Pole on the nights of December 11 to 12 and 12 to 13.

Switzerland colder than North Pole because of icy Atlantic air

According to MeteoNews, reported by Blick, a wave of icy air from the Atlantic Ocean is to blame for the frigid temperatures across Swiss cities and cantons during the weekend and on Monday. Forecaster Roger Perret told the newspaper that this air, combined with windless and cloudless skies, forced temperatures even lower.

On the nights of Sunday to Monday and Monday to Tuesday, the mercury dropped as low as -27 degrees in the Ofenpass in Canton Graubünden, and -26,2 degrees in Samedan. This means, in both locations, the weather in Switzerland was colder than at the North Pole!

Coldest temperatures in Swiss ski resorts and towns in the mountains

The chilliest temperatures were felt in Swiss ski resorts and towns in the mountains. Perret said that the most freezing conditions occur when cold air moves down from the mountains and cannot escape through valleys, as is the case in Samedan, where the resort is surrounded by steep mountains.

For those hoping for an end to cold temperatures, you’re in luck. From Wednesday, especially in Swiss cities and the lowlands, temperatures will shoot back up to 6 degrees. The snow will melt and snowfall will turn to rain in most areas, until freezing temperatures return on the weekend.

When will we know if there will be a white Christmas in Switzerland?

For those hoping that Christmas in Switzerland will be snowy, Perret joked that “the answer is in the stars.” He said that it wasn’t possible to make accurate forecasts right now and that families in Switzerland will have to wait until December 15 before forecasters know for certain whether there will be snow during the holidays. 

By Jan de Boer