Switzerland is bracing for another significant heatwave this week, with MeteoSchweiz issuing heat warnings for both sides of the Alps and forecasting daytime highs of up to 35 degrees in the lowlands.
After a brief respite at the start of the week, when nighttime temperatures on the north side of the Alps dropped to a comfortable 15 degrees, the high-pressure system over southwestern Europe is expanding again, bringing sunny, hot conditions back across the country.
The current heatwave follows an already exceptionally hot June, in which 19 weather stations recorded all-time high temperatures, and a 12-day heat spell became one of the longest on record in the north.
South of the Alps
A level-three heat warning has been active in Ticino since Sunday and will continue through the coming days. Temperatures are expected to remain above the threshold for a heat warning, with maximums between 31 and 34 degrees, and locally higher peaks in the valleys of central and northern Ticino due to a north-wind situation persisting until Wednesday. Relative humidity during the hottest hours will sit between 30% and 45%.
North of the Alps
The threshold for a heat warning will be exceeded from Tuesday in the region from Geneva via the Three Lakes area to northwestern Switzerland, and from Thursday across the rest of the lowlands on the north side of the Alps. Maximum temperatures are forecast between 31 and 35 degrees, with relative humidity of 20 to 40 percent during the hottest part of the day. Nighttime lows will range from 15 to 21 degrees, though urban areas will experience several degrees higher due to slower heat loss.
Read More: Oil Crisis Bites Less In Switzerland As Energy Efficiency Shocks To Rescue
Heatwave Hits Switzerland : Possible Thunderstorms
MeteoSchweiz and the Federal Office of Public Health remind residents that hot days can impair health, particularly for older people, those with chronic illnesses, young children, infants and pregnant women.
Between Friday and Sunday, possible thunderstorms could temporarily ease the heatwave, though this scenario remains uncertain and would likely bring only short-lived relief. The exact end date of the heatwave is still unclear, according to MeteoSchweiz.
Switzerland Overtakes France And Germany As Top Schengen Destination For Indians
