Switzerland weather by month

Check out Switzerland weather averages by month. Compare detailed monthly climate statistics including temperature, rainfall and sunshine figures.

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
2°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Bern2
4°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Bern4
8°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Bern8
12°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Bern12
16°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Bern16
20°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Bern20
22°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Bern22
21°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Bern21
18°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Bern18
13°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Bern13
7°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Bern7
3°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Bern3
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
15 days with some rainfall in January in Bern15
14 days with some rainfall in February in Bern14
15 days with some rainfall in March in Bern15
16 days with some rainfall in April in Bern16
18 days with some rainfall in May in Bern18
17 days with some rainfall in June in Bern17
15 days with some rainfall in July in Bern15
16 days with some rainfall in August in Bern16
13 days with some rainfall in September in Bern13
13 days with some rainfall in October in Bern13
14 days with some rainfall in November in Bern14
14 days with some rainfall in December in Bern14

More weather >>

More about Switzerland

Switzerland by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Recommended for Switzerland

TUI: Top deals & discounts on 2026/2027 holidays

  • Explore latest special offers & online deals from TUI
  • Free child places & £0 deposits with direct debit available
  • Book summer & winter sun holidays in 2026/2027
Go to TUI deal >>

View all TUI offers

TUITUI deal finder

The climate guide for Switzerland (Bern) shows long term monthly weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia), the Met Office & the Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Find out more about our data sources.

Top Switzerland destinations

Below are average maximum temperatures at popular countries, regions and places in Switzerland for next month - April. Select a destination to see the climate guide for all months of the year.

All Switzerland regions

All Switzerland destinations

Metric (°C / mm)  |  Imperial (°F / inches)

Back to top

August in the Bernese Oberland just south of Bern, Switzerland
August in the Bernese Oberland just south of Bern, Switzerland © Murray Foubister - Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

Switzerland climate overview

Although a small country, Switzerland has a remarkably varied climate, shaped largely by its high mountains and complex topography.

The main mountain range in Switzerland is the Alps in the south, while the much smaller Jura Mountains in the north straddle the border with France. Between the two is the Swiss Plateau, or Mittelland, a relatively low-lying area flanked by Lake Geneva to the west and Lake Konstanz to the east.

This is where most of the country's inhabitants live. It covers about 30% of the country's total area and is home to the major cities of Geneva, Lausanne, Bern and Zurich.

The plateau region has a moderately wet climate with slightly more rainfall in summer than in winter, partly due to the frequency of summer thunderstorms. Summers are warm, and though winters can be cold, they are rarely severely cold. However, fog often blankets the lower-lying areas from November to February, which can persist for days, resulting in long periods with little or no sun.

Old town of Basel, Switzerland with the twin towers of Basel Cathedral
Old town of Basel, Switzerland with the twin towers of Basel Cathedral © Balakate - Fotolia.com

To the northwest of the plateau, the Jura Mountains are a sub-alpine range known for their dramatic limestone landscapes and dense pine forests. They are not especially high, but the climate here is cooler and wetter than on the plateau. The region is more exposed to Atlantic weather systems, which means it is generally cloudier in summer than on the plateau. It also gets more snow in winter but is less affected by fog than on the plateau.

In the south of the country, which is dominated by the Alps, there are three distinct climate zones. The first is on the northern slopes of the mountains. The second is along the inner valleys, which in Switzerland are extensive, and the third is on the southern side of the mountains, a small area in the canton of Ticino.

Over 60% of Switzerland lies in the Alps, making it by far the largest region in the country and home to the tallest mountains. While the Jura Mountains barely rise above 1,600 metres, the Alps have numerous peaks over 4,000 metres. And it is these very mountains, with their dramatic peaks, picturesque villages, and year-round outdoor activities, that are the main attraction.

The paddle steamer Blümlisalp on Lake Thun, Interlaken
The paddle steamer Blümlisalp on Lake Thun, Interlaken © Christof Sonderegger - Switzerland Tourism

The climate of cities on or near the northern slopes of the Alps, such as Interlaken, Lucerne and St Gallen, is affected by the presence of the mountains because, as weather systems approach, usually from the west or northwest, moist air is forced to rise over the mountains. As the air rises, it expands and cools, eventually releasing its moisture either as rain or snow.

So, summers on the northern slopes are both cooler and wetter than on the plateau, and in winter, there is a lot more snow. More snow is good if you are planning to ski at Gstaad, Wengen or Grindelwald. However, in the summer, there is less sunshine here on the northern slopes than at mountain resorts further south in the inner-alpine region.

Summer in the picturesque village of Wengen
Summer in the picturesque village of Wengen © Kavalenkava - Adobe Stock Image

Along these inner valleys, Switzerland has some of its finest and sunniest weather. This is because weather systems from the Atlantic lose most of their moisture by the time they reach the mountains and valleys. Example towns here include Sion and Chur, and resorts such as Davos, St Moritz and Zermatt. Sion has half the annual rainfall and snow of Interlaken on the northern slopes, for example, though the two places are less than 40 miles apart.

However, one caveat is probably needed. In confined low-lying valleys in winter, cold air, which is heavier than warm air, can sink and become trapped by overlying relatively warm air. This is called a 'temperature inversion', which leads to low cloud and fog in the valleys while higher elevations on the surrounding mountains can be bathed in sunshine.

Finally, there is one region in the far south of Switzerland on the southern slopes of the Alps where conditions throughout the year are slightly different again. It is the only region where the border with Italy does not follow the main Alpine ridge and actually reaches within two miles of the city of Como. It includes parts of Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, where the city of Lugano is located.

Here, the climate is influenced mainly by weather systems originating in the Mediterranean. Winters are much milder than elsewhere in Switzerland, and summers are generally much warmer, similar to conditions on the northern plains of Italy, so it can be hot and humid.

Also, as in the case of the northern slopes of the Alps, if moist air blows in from the south, it is forced to rise over the northern mountains, which usually produces a lot of rain. So from April to November, it can be very wet at times. But rest assured, this is also one of the sunniest places in Switzerland in summer.

What to pack for Switzerland weather

Always be prepared for rain in Switzerland, especially in the lakeland district. Complement summer lightweights with warm jackets and wrap up well in the winter. Take ski-wear for the mountains.

Switzerland weather averages

Temperature in Switzerland (°C)

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max temperature (daytime)
2°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Switzerland (Bern)2
4°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Switzerland (Bern)4
8°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Switzerland (Bern)8
12°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Switzerland (Bern)12
16°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Switzerland (Bern)16
20°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Switzerland (Bern)20
22°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Switzerland (Bern)22
21°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Switzerland (Bern)21
18°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Switzerland (Bern)18
13°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Switzerland (Bern)13
7°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Switzerland (Bern)7
3°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Switzerland (Bern)3
Min temperature (night-time)
-4°C minimum night-time temperature in January in Switzerland (Bern)-4
-3°C minimum night-time temperature in February in Switzerland (Bern)-3
-1°C minimum night-time temperature in March in Switzerland (Bern)-1
3°C minimum night-time temperature in April in Switzerland (Bern)3
7°C minimum night-time temperature in May in Switzerland (Bern)7
10°C minimum night-time temperature in June in Switzerland (Bern)10
12°C minimum night-time temperature in July in Switzerland (Bern)12
11°C minimum night-time temperature in August in Switzerland (Bern)11
9°C minimum night-time temperature in September in Switzerland (Bern)9
5°C minimum night-time temperature in October in Switzerland (Bern)5
1°C minimum night-time temperature in November in Switzerland (Bern)1
-3°C minimum night-time temperature in December in Switzerland (Bern)-3
Heat & Humidity
No heat & humidity in January in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in February in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in March in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in April in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in May in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in June in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in July in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in August in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in September in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in October in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in November in Switzerland (Bern)0
No heat & humidity in December in Switzerland (Bern)0

Note: 0 = None, L = Low, M = Moderate, H = High, VH = Very high, E = Extreme

Sunshine & UV index in Switzerland

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Daily hours of sunshine
Daily hours of daylight
9 hours of daylight per day in January in Switzerland (Bern)9
10 hours of daylight per day in February in Switzerland (Bern)10
12 hours of daylight per day in March in Switzerland (Bern)12
14 hours of daylight per day in April in Switzerland (Bern)14
15 hours of daylight per day in May in Switzerland (Bern)15
16 hours of daylight per day in June in Switzerland (Bern)16
15 hours of daylight per day in July in Switzerland (Bern)15
14 hours of daylight per day in August in Switzerland (Bern)14
13 hours of daylight per day in September in Switzerland (Bern)13
11 hours of daylight per day in October in Switzerland (Bern)11
9 hours of daylight per day in November in Switzerland (Bern)9
9 hours of daylight per day in December in Switzerland (Bern)9
UV Index (Maximum)
UV (maximum) index 1 (Low) in January in Switzerland (Bern)1
UV (maximum) index 2 (Low) in February in Switzerland (Bern)2
UV (maximum) index 3 (Moderate) in March in Switzerland (Bern)3
UV (maximum) index 5 (Moderate) in April in Switzerland (Bern)5
UV (maximum) index 7 (High) in May in Switzerland (Bern)7
UV (maximum) index 8 (Very High) in June in Switzerland (Bern)8
UV (maximum) index 8 (Very High) in July in Switzerland (Bern)8
UV (maximum) index 7 (High) in August in Switzerland (Bern)7
UV (maximum) index 5 (Moderate) in September in Switzerland (Bern)5
UV (maximum) index 3 (Moderate) in October in Switzerland (Bern)3
UV (maximum) index 1 (Low) in November in Switzerland (Bern)1
UV (maximum) index 1 (Low) in December in Switzerland (Bern)1

Rainfall in Switzerland

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Number of days with some rain
15 days with some rainfall in January in Switzerland (Bern)15
14 days with some rainfall in February in Switzerland (Bern)14
15 days with some rainfall in March in Switzerland (Bern)15
16 days with some rainfall in April in Switzerland (Bern)16
18 days with some rainfall in May in Switzerland (Bern)18
17 days with some rainfall in June in Switzerland (Bern)17
15 days with some rainfall in July in Switzerland (Bern)15
16 days with some rainfall in August in Switzerland (Bern)16
13 days with some rainfall in September in Switzerland (Bern)13
13 days with some rainfall in October in Switzerland (Bern)13
14 days with some rainfall in November in Switzerland (Bern)14
14 days with some rainfall in December in Switzerland (Bern)14
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
69 mm monthly rainfall in January in Switzerland (Bern)69
66 mm monthly rainfall in February in Switzerland (Bern)66
61 mm monthly rainfall in March in Switzerland (Bern)61
69 mm monthly rainfall in April in Switzerland (Bern)69
81 mm monthly rainfall in May in Switzerland (Bern)81
106 mm monthly rainfall in June in Switzerland (Bern)106
95 mm monthly rainfall in July in Switzerland (Bern)95
121 mm monthly rainfall in August in Switzerland (Bern)121
80 mm monthly rainfall in September in Switzerland (Bern)80
57 mm monthly rainfall in October in Switzerland (Bern)57
85 mm monthly rainfall in November in Switzerland (Bern)85
69 mm monthly rainfall in December in Switzerland (Bern)69

Compare Switzerland weather with the UK

The weather chart below compares the average monthly maximum daytime temperature for Switzerland (Bern) and the UK (London).

Maximum daytime temperature (°C)

Switzerland (Bern)
UK (London)
2
7
4
7
8
10
12
13
16
17
20
20
22
22
21
22
18
19
13
15
7
10
3
8
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Metric (°C / mm)  |  Imperial (°F / inches)

Compare more weather >>

Back to top

More about Switzerland

Related posts

Popular travel offers

Explore holiday destinations

More holidays

Save with latest deals & discounts

More deals

Airport parking

More parking

Airport lounges

More lounges

Top ^