Though everyone loves a public holiday, what really puts the cherry on top of a day off is sunshine and warm temperatures. With this in mind, here’s what the weather in Switzerland has to offer this Easter, and which parts of the country will see the best conditions.
In what will be bad news for the traditional spring destinations in Switzerland - Ticino and Valais - heavy rainfall is forecast in the south of the country from April 16 onwards. Though this will be welcome relief for the country’s plants, rivers and lakes - which have been in drought in recent weeks - the poor weather will dampen the plans of anyone who wants to visit the region.
Sadly, it will be raining in Ticino and southern Valais for practically all of the Easter weekend, with conditions only clearing (briefly) on April 21. If you are planning to head to the southern Alps, it is also advised to keep a lookout for weather warnings issued by the government - Meteo Suisse has already issued a severe rain and snowfall warning for southern Valais, ending on April 17.
With the traditional Easter destinations expected to be cloudy, cold and wet, where should people head during the long weekend? Meteorologist Klaus Marquardt told Blick that the east and northeast of Switzerland should be the best places for weather during the holiday.
The very best conditions are expected in Canton Graubünden (especially its southern valleys), northern Canton Zurich and the shores of Lake Constance. Temperatures will hover around 15 to 20 degrees celsius throughout - perfect for a springtime hike! The only blip will be on Good Friday when some rainfall is expected.
For central and northwestern Switzerland, the holiday will start with heavy clouds on Friday, with the mercury only rising to between 11 and 13 degrees. Scattered sunshine and highs of 20 degrees will characterise Saturday, followed by cooler temperatures, possible rain and heavy thunderstorms throughout the region on Sunday. Easter Monday should be partly sunny, but temperatures will remain cool.
Finally, the Easter weekend will start off with clouds in French-speaking Switzerland, with sunshine building over Saturday alongside temperatures. The region will be covered by scattered rain showers on Easter Sunday, and the mercury in Geneva and Lausanne will peak at 17 and 14 degrees respectively. The holiday will conclude on Monday with sunshine, some cloud and highs of between 16 and 18 degrees.
Thumb image credit: Juergen Wackenhut / Shutterstock.com