This weekend, the weather in Switzerland is expected to go into full summer mode, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees celsius in all Swiss cities for the first time in 2023. While this will be good news for people on holiday and those hoping to take their first dive into Swiss lakes and rivers, officials have warned that the country is also facing the first possible heatwave of the year and will need rain as soon as possible.

Swiss cities to experience 30-degree temperatures this weekend

On June 15, the residents of Biasca, Canton Ticino became the first town in Switzerland to see the mercury rise to 30 degrees, making last Thursday the first of what meteorologists predict will be a near-record number of “heat days” in Switzerland this year. Soon, all Swiss cities will see temperatures rise above the 30-degree mark for the first time this year.

Things will start slowly: on Saturday, people both north and south of the mountains should expect average highs of 28 degrees, with the hottest conditions forecast for Basel where the 30-degree barrier might be broken in some local areas. Scattered clouds will be the norm across the country, but rain will be scarce.

Those craving the tropics should enjoy Sunday the most. In a twist from traditional forecasts, the hottest conditions will not be in Ticino but in the Mittelland, with 30 degrees expected in Geneva, Lausanne, Basel, Bern, Zurich and St. Gallen.  People who want to escape the high temperatures this weekend should be able to seek shelter in the Alps, with most ski resorts expected to see highs of just 22 degrees.

Heightened risk of heatwaves in Switzerland next week

From next week, MeteoSwiss noted that the risk of a heatwave will increase significantly, as the mercury climbs to over 32 degrees in parts of northern Switzerland between Monday and Wednesday. Authorities noted that some parts of northwest Switzerland have not seen significant rain for weeks, with MeteoNews writing that "the drought is becoming more and more of an issue in the north and will continue to intensify in the coming days."

As a result, the government has issued a “considerable” forest fire warning - level three - for parts of Graubünden and Valais, and all areas of Canton Schaffhausen, Zurich and regions of northwest Switzerland - Solothurn has already seen one forest fire this week, which spread to within 20 metres of the Balm fortress ruins before being put out by the fire brigade.

People in level three areas are advised to only light fires in designated campfire spots, watch the fire at all times and extinguish any sparks. The risk level remains moderate across the rest of the country with the exception of Ticino, where the risk of a forest fire is classed as low. To stay updated on the situation, please consult the official website.

Thunderstorms to provide welcome rain on Wednesday

Luckily, forecasters confirmed that the start of next week could bring heavy thunderstorms to the country, cooling Swiss cities down, giving plants a much-needed helping of water, and reducing the risk of fire. After Wednesday, temperatures across the country will return to around 28 degrees.

However, the recent spate of hot weather will likely not be the last we hear of heat waves this summer. Like last year, meteorologists have predicted that, spurred on by climate change, 2023 will be one of the hottest years on record in Switzerland.