Climate and best seasons to visit Switzerland. Actual weather forecast

The climate of Switzerland is moderately continental. The peculiarity of the country is its landscape. More than 62 percent of the territory is occupied by mountains, so in some parts of Switzerland winter does not end even in summer. The climatic characteristics of the territory directly depend on its height above sea level. The mountains are a natural barrier to the cold Arctic air masses. The country is characterized by cold winters in mountainous areas, and hot summers in plains. Every year, a lot of precipitation falls in Switzerland. Almost throughout the whole territory, the average temperature in winter is about 1 degree below zero, and in summer, the temperature rises up to 25 degrees Celsius. At night, the temperature can drop to +10C. In the south of the country, the weather remains unchanged at any time of the year. The largest amount of precipitation a year falls in the southern part of Switzerland.

Winter in the highlands of Switzerland is snowy and cold. In some regions, snow lasts for more than six months. Such climatic conditions contribute to the development of ski tourism. Lowland in the mountainous areas is constantly shrouded in fog, but it is always sunny and warm in highlands. Winter in the plains is less severe. Snow in Bern and Zurich lies no more than two or three weeks. In Geneva and in Lausanne, it is snowy even less. Near the Italian border, there is no snow at all, and lakes are almost never covered by ice. The beginning of spring in Switzerland is quite cold. However, by the middle of April, all the vegetation begins to bloom and the air is filled with incredible scents of magnolias, tulips, and camellias. The air temperature rises gradually, but the snow does not melt. The warmest cities are Geneva and Zurich; the average temperature in the middle of spring rises to 16 degrees Celsius. The rainy season begins at the end of April. By the end of May, the air temperature is rising up to +19 degrees in the warmest regions.

Summer in Switzerland is a contrast; in the daytime it is hot and it's cold at nighttime. There is a high humidity, often rains in Swiss valleys. The air temperature ranges from 20 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius, but at night the thermometer can drop down to 9C even in the warmest cities. During the day, the weather is even hotter in the south of the country. On average, the maximum temperature is 32C. Such heat is felt quite comfortably. Lake Geneva warms up to 20 degrees in the heat of summer, while in other lakes the water is much warmer. Lugano lake is considered to be the warmest; its water temperature is +26 degrees. In the lowlands of the mountains, alpine nature is very picturesque in summer; in the daytime the temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius. The maximum summer temperature in the highlands is +10C. With the beginning of autumn, hot weather in the southern regions recedes; it is replaced by a comfortable warm one. Precipitation is significantly less than in the summer. However, the weather becomes gloomy since the middle of October. The season of snowfalls begins in the Alps. The mountains are covered with a thick snow layer. At the end of November, short-term frosts are possible even in the south, and the weather becomes windy and damp. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Switzerland attracts millions of tourists every year with its incredibly beautiful alpine nature and great lifestyle. At the same time, every traveler perceives the country in a special way. Vacations are great all year round. First of all, Switzerland is a country of high-quality winter recreation. The abundance of delightful ski resorts can impress even an experienced and selective tourist. The height of the ski season falls precisely on the New Year and Christmas holidays. The magic spirit of the upcoming festivities is hovering in the snow-covered mountainous areas. Sales starts and the stores in big cities are crowded with customers. In this case, it is worth considering that Switzerland is a country for recreation of wealthy people, but even they can be shocked by enormous prices for services in the New Year's period.

Besides winter holidays, a huge tourist influx is also observed in the middle of summer. Vacations at places with picturesque nature and repairing the health in thermal spas enjoy great popularity. The beach season on Lake Geneva lasts from the middle of summer to the end of August. In other lakes, the water warms up much faster, so you can swim from the very first days of June. July is the perfect time of the year in Switzerland for yachting, windsurfing, golf, and other sports activities. Many tourists choose Easter vacations for a holiday in Switzerland, despite the fact that the weather at this time of year not always invites to rest. Rains begin, and the air temperature still does not warm up to a comfortable one. You can stop in any resort town on Easter. The frosty weather in Switzerland makes it possible to buy tours for more affordable prices.

Despite the fact that in the off-season the tourist flow is dropping, places in hotels should still be booked in advance. That’s because the most active time for the business sector is coming. From April to the end of June, it's time to go on tours and visit natural and architectural monuments of the country. From September to October, various sports tours are very popular, including trekking in mountains, mountaineering, paragliding, and canoeing. You can go to the south of Switzerland even in autumn, as the exhausting heat there is already over. The weather will become fair and comfortable to get acquainted with the lush subtropical vegetation.