Must-knows about Swiss weather forecasts

  • The Swiss weather forecast is somewhat reliable from about 5 days ahead. Even then a lot can change.
  • It’s best to consult forecasts the evening or morning before any day trip.
  • Use local forecasts and check the differences throughout the day. Nation-wide Swiss forecasts, with one symbol for the entire day, don’t provide enough info for your region.

Consult the 7-day Swiss weather forecast

Consult local forecasts, weather radars and live webcam images

How to find the local forecast for your region or town

  • Option 1: click the link under the above forecast. Fill out your town or mountaintop name in the search field in the upper left corner.
  • Option 2: use www.srf.ch and enter your destination’s name.
  • Option 3: consult the weather sections on our town and region pages and on our activity pages.

Where to find Swiss rain or snow radars

Where to find Swiss UV forecasts

Where to find live webcam images of Swiss mountains and other locations

Understanding the weather forecast for Switzerland

Forecasts for more than 5 days ahead are useless

The first thing you need to know is that long-term forecasts (for more than 5 days in advance) are useless. The weather in the Swiss Alps is unpredictable in the long term, and often even in the short term.

Swiss forecasts are somewhat reliable for 2 to 3 days ahead of time. The forecasts of the prior evening and the same morning are 75% to 100% accurate, according to our experience.

Weather can change quickly, no matter what predictions say

Regardless of the predictions, the weather in Switzerland may change really quickly and dramatic differences throughout the day, or between one valley and the next, are no exception.

What if the forecast predicts days of continuous rain?

The forecast may show rain every day. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it will rain all day long. Often, 90% of the day will just be cloudy or even sunny, and 10% of the time will be rainy. You can spend many hours outdoors on such days.

Tips:

  • Consult local forecasts for your town, region or mountain destination: see above. Also look at the forecast per hour/timeframe, as there may be huge differences throughout the day. A Swiss forecast that provides one symbol or temperature for the entire country and the entire day doesn’t give you the information you need.
  • Be flexible. Don’t have a fixed itinerary but adjust your plans to the weather, or at least have a backup plan. You can do something else or go to a different region for a day if the forecasts show better weather there.
  • Relentless rain for days in a row is less likely, but not impossible. In that case, you can visit a town, a museum or enjoy a train ride. There is still plenty to do and see.

Other websites of interest

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.