After months of rain, rain, clouds and more rain, the weather in Switzerland will finally be giving residents of the 26 cantons a summer treat. Forecasters have predicted that the first official “hot day” of the year will arrive in the country by the end of this week.

Rain and clouds dominate weather in Switzerland

It’s safe to say that the last few months have been poor for anyone craving a sun tan or a swim. The first six months of 2024 have been the darkest in Switzerland since 2016, with the country recording 200 fewer hours of sunshine than usual alongside being very wet. 

The continuous rainfall has also led to a series of extreme and fatal weather events in both June and July. However, from this week people in Switzerland will finally be given a prolonged taste of summer. 

Summer weather to return to Swiss cantons from Wednesday

According to MeteoNews, temperatures across Switzerland will begin to rise from Wednesday as the last of the thunderstorms and rain showers depart. Scattered clouds will be common in the foothills of the Swiss mountains and northern and eastern Switzerland, while central areas and the region around Lake Geneva will see bright sunshine and a slight breeze. Highs of 25 degrees celsius are expected.

Thursday is when the mercury will really start to shoot up. In fact, places like Basel and Sion may even record the first “hot day” of 2024 - when temperatures reach 30 degrees or higher. The rest of the country will experience a cooler 28 to 29 degrees, and while most of Switzerland will remain dry, “isolated showers are possible in the Alpine region,” noted MeteoNews forecaster Michael Eichmann.

First official hot day of the year is to arrive on Friday

Finally, Friday is likely to be the first hot day of the year for the majority of people in Switzerland. Temperatures across the country are set to rise to 30 degrees, alongside rainless skies and lots of sunshine. Saturday will be even hotter, at 32 degrees on average, but rain has a higher chance of watering down the summer fun. 

People in Switzerland advised against swimming in rivers

Despite the good weather and the fact that Swiss lakes and rivers are finally warming up, the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SLRG) “strongly advise[s] against swimming or bathing in rivers” at the present time. While Swiss lakes should be fine to swim in, excessive rainfall in previous weeks means that currents in the rivers are much stronger than usual, and the high water line means it is no longer possible to get out of the river in some locations.

SLRG spokesperson Christoph Merki told Blick that “it is important to know the section of the river and the dangerous spots." He concluded that until the water levels drop - which is not expected for a number of days - people should take a dip in official swimming areas and pools instead.

Warm but wet conditions to persist into next week

However, all good weather must eventually come to an end: on Sunday, the temperature in Switzerland will drop back down to 25 degrees, with showers and local thunderstorms likely but not confirmed for the evening. Eichmann explained that Canton Bern and central Switzerland are forecast to see the strongest storms, if they arrive. 

The beginning of next week will see a return to form though, with the mercury rising back up to 28 degrees.