The weather in the second quarter of 2022 (April, May, June). The April weather was still changeable. This was followed by the second warmest May since measurements began with little precipitation and the second hottest June with heavy thunderstorms.
Sunny April with heavy rainfall on the south side of the Alps
The first third of April was mostly changeable.
The second third of the month brought a lot of sunshine throughout Switzerland and in the last third of the month the southern side of the Alps recorded the first heavy rainfall in a long time. From April 1st to 9th the weather was determined by low pressure.
After a short intermediate high on April 4th, currents from southwest to northwest brought the typically changeable April weather on the north side of the Alps. On April 7th and especially on April 8th it was stormy with peak gusts of 80 to 130 km/h in low areas on the north side of the Alps and up to 140 km/h in mountain areas. On April 9, snow fell again in the north down to lower altitudes. There was a lot of sunshine on the southern side of the Alps on April 5th, 6th and 9th.
On April 9, a strong northern foehn swept through the valleys on the southern side of the Alps with peak gusts of between 70 and almost 90 km/h. Persistent high-pressure weather, then precipitation in the south: From April 10 to 22, high-pressure systems brought widespread sunshine. While the Bise often blew in the north and the maximum temperatures rose to around 20 °C, the southern side of the Alps experienced a short summery period on April 15 and 16 with daily maximums of 25 to 28 °C, supported by the north foehn. From April 20, a low-pressure system over the western Mediterranean brought humid air to the southern side of the Alps, which disappeared under a compact cloud cover. From April 23 to 26, a low-pressure system moved eastwards from southern France across the Alps. On the south side of the Alps, the first heavier rains have finally fallen since last November. Sunny again, then more precipitation: from April 27 to 29, a high over north-western Europe brought back the spring sun. During the night of April 30, a cold front brought some precipitation in the Alps and in southern and eastern Switzerland. During the day on April 30th there were widespread showers with changeable weather.
Monthly Balance Sheet April 2022
The nationwide mean April temperature was 0.1 °C below the 1991-2020 norm.
In the lower altitudes on both sides of the Alps, it ranged between 0.4 °C below and 0.1 °C above the norm. There were also local values between 0.5 and 0.8 °C below the norm. On the Jura heights and in the Alps, the April temperature rose in some areas by up to 0.4 °C, in Upper Valais and in the Leventina by up to 0.6 °C above the long-term average. The total precipitation in April was between 100 and 145% of the norm north of the Alps.
There were also isolated values of 170 to 190% or even 80 to 100% of the norm. On the northern slope of the Alps and in Valais, the monthly totals were mostly between 90 and 120% of the long-term average. In many places, Ticino and Graubünden received only 40 to 70% of the norm. The amount of sunshine in April on the south side of the Alps, in the Engadin and in northern and central Grisons mostly reached 120 to 130% of the norm. In the other areas, the values were between 110 and 120% of the long-term mean.
Extremely sunny and dry May
Switzerland registered the second warmest May since records began in 1864. Locally there were a record high number of summer days and new May records for the daily maximum temperature.
In contrast, the total precipitation remained regionally well below average. After a changeable first third of the month determined by low pressure, high pressure was the dominant weather element from the second third of the month onwards.
They usually brought a lot of sunshine and carried warm air masses to Switzerland. Daily highs of 25 °C and higher were often recorded in the lowlands on both sides of the Alps. Days with temperatures of 25 °C or more are called summer days. New May records for the daily maximum temperature were registered at twelve measurement locations on May 20, 2022. Strong thunderstorms cool down: On May 23, before a cold frond passed, strong thunderstorm activity developed with intense showers and an extensive hailstorm along the northern edge of the Alps. The passage of the cold front brought a significant drop in temperature, so that on May 24 the daily highs in many areas of Switzerland were around 10 °C lower than on the previous day. On the southern side of the Alps and in Valais, the daily highs rose above 25 °C again between May 26 and 28. On May 27, it was locally around 30 °C warm on the southern side of the Alps. North of the Alps, only the Lake Geneva region recorded more than 25 °C on May 27th.
Monthly Balance Sheet May 2022
The national mean temperature in May was 2.6 °C above the norm. In western Switzerland, in Valais and in the Gotthard region, it was mostly between 2.7 and 3.2 °C above the norm. In the other areas, the values rose widely by 2.1 to 2.6 °C above the long-term average. Several measurement locations recorded the warmest May since measurements began. Precipitation totals remained well below the norm in May. Less than 30% fell regionally in western Switzerland and Valais. At numerous measuring locations in western Switzerland with more than 60 years of series of measurements, it was the lowest rainfall in May since measurements began. The amount of sunshine in May north of the Alps and in Valais was 120 to 135%, locally almost 140% of the norm. In the other areas, it was mostly between 100 and 120% of the long-term average.
June with heat and strong thunderstorms
Switzerland experienced the second hottest June since measurements began in 1864. Locally, strong thunderstorms led to very high precipitation totals.
Sunshine duration was widely above average. The first third of June was mostly thunderstorms.
Until June 9th there were showers every day somewhere in Switzerland. On June 5th, the largest hail affected area of the month was recorded. From June 10, a long period of mostly sunny high-pressure weather set in. Until June 15, Switzerland was in the sphere of influence of Atlantic highs. A subtropical high pressure area then spread from the Mediterranean Sea to Central Europe, bringing very warm air into our country. Extreme heat wave: On June 15, the first heat wave of this year began.
The daily highs on the north side of the Alps and in Valais rose widely to the heat mark of 30 °C or above. The southern side of the Alps recorded widespread heat days from June 16th. The heat maximum was reached in Switzerland on June 19th. In many places on the north side of the Alps there were daily highs of 34 °C and more. The front runners were the northern edge of Switzerland and the Neuchâtel and Sion regions with over 36 °C. On the southern side of the Alps, the maximum values mostly remained below 32 °C, even during the heat maximum. The heat wave with daily highs of 30 °C or more lasted until June 21 on both sides of the Alps. In addition to the daily maximum, the high nocturnal temperatures play a particularly important role in health. The number of tropical nights (minimum daily temperature does not fall below 20 °C) has increased significantly in recent decades. The current hot spell in mid-June came remarkably early. High daily maximum temperatures over several days are usually only recorded towards the end of June. From June 22nd, warm and humid thunderstorm air from the south-west dominated the weather in Switzerland.
The thunderstorms in June 2022 not only brought heavy precipitation locally, but also occasional high wind peaks at low altitudes. In addition, there was an extremely early snowfall in the mountains. On the Weissfluhjoch (snow measuring field 2536 m above sea level) the winter snow cover disappeared very early this year. The snow depth of 0 cm was already reported on June 6, 2022. It was the second earliest snowfall since measurements began in 1937. Only in the record year 1947 was snowfall three days earlier.
Monthly balance June 2022
The June temperature averaged 2.7 °C above the norm across the country.
In western Switzerland and at higher altitudes in the Alps, it was mostly 2.5 to 3.2 °C above the long-term average. At lower altitudes on the north side of the Alps and in Valais, the values were 2 to 2.5 °C above the norm. At lower altitudes on the southern side of the Alps and in the Engadine, the June temperature was 2 °C above the long-term average. Total precipitation in June in western and north-western Switzerland was between 80% and just over 100% of the norm. In the central plateau, they rose to 110 to 150% of the long-term average. The southern side of the Alps received regionally 140 to 180%, while southern Ticino received less than 50% of the norm. In the other areas, the monthly totals were between 90 and 120% of the long-term average. Strong thunderstorms led to very high monthly totals locally. Sunshine duration in June widely reached 110 to 130% of the norm. In Valais, the values ranged between 100 and 110% of the long-term average.
Swiss map with climate stations
Table as PDF: Climate data in the second quarter of 2022
Source: MeteoSwiss, Climate Bulletins 2022
