The climate of Zurich is moderately continental, with cold winters and warm summers.
The city is located in the north of Switzerland, on the shores of the lake of the same name, which are located at an altitude of 400 meters (1,300 feet).
The winter is cold and gray. There may be relatively mild periods, when Atlantic currents prevail, and other colder periods, when the temperature drops below freezing.
On average, 85 cm (33.5 in) of snow fall per year (more than in the other major cities of Switzerland).
Sometimes, there can be cold spells, in which temperatures can drop as low as -15 °C (5 °F) or even below. At the meteorological station of Fluntern, located at an altitude of 570 meters (1,870 feet), the coldest record is -24.2 °C (-11.6 °F) and was set in February 1929.
In summer, the temperatures are generally pleasant and lend themselves to outdoor activities, although sometimes there can be rains and thunderstorms.
At times, hot periods can occur, generally of short duration, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 32 °C (90 °F). The highest record is 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) and was set in July 1947.
Best Time
The best time to visit Zurich is from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest of the year. However, we cannot exclude some rain, or a bit of cool weather, or even cold, especially in May and early June.
Zurich - Climate data
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 1.1 °C (33.9 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 19.4 °C (66.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1.3 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 30 | 38 | 33.9 |
| February | -1.1 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 30 | 41 | 35.7 |
| March | 2 | 10.2 | 6.1 | 36 | 50 | 43 |
| April | 5.1 | 14.6 | 9.9 | 41 | 58 | 49.7 |
| May | 9.1 | 18.8 | 14 | 48 | 66 | 57.1 |
| June | 12.7 | 22.4 | 17.6 | 55 | 72 | 63.6 |
| July | 14.5 | 24.3 | 19.4 | 58 | 76 | 66.8 |
| August | 14.3 | 23.9 | 19.1 | 58 | 75 | 66.4 |
| September | 10.7 | 19 | 14.9 | 51 | 66 | 58.8 |
| October | 7.2 | 13.8 | 10.5 | 45 | 57 | 50.8 |
| November | 2.6 | 7.6 | 5.1 | 37 | 46 | 41.1 |
| December | -0.5 | 4 | 1.8 | 31 | 39 | 35.2 |
| Year | 6.3 | 14 | 10.15 | 43.4 | 57.2 | 50 |
Precipitation amounts to 1115 millimeters (43.9 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 60 mm (2.4 in) in the driest months (January, February) to 130 mm (5.1 in) in the wettest ones (May, July) Here is the average precipitation.
| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60 | 2.4 | 10 |
| February | 60 | 2.4 | 9 |
| March | 70 | 2.8 | 10 |
| April | 80 | 3.1 | 11 |
| May | 130 | 5.1 | 13 |
| June | 125 | 4.9 | 12 |
| July | 130 | 5.1 | 12 |
| August | 120 | 4.7 | 12 |
| September | 90 | 3.5 | 10 |
| October | 85 | 3.3 | 10 |
| November | 80 | 3.1 | 10 |
| December | 85 | 3.3 | 11 |
| Year | 1115 | 43.9 | 131 |
There are on average around 1675 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
| Month | Average | Total | January | 2 | 60 | February | 3 | 90 | March | 4.5 | 145 | April | 6 | 175 | May | 6 | 190 | June | 7 | 205 | July | 7.5 | 225 | August | 7 | 215 | September | 5.5 | 160 | October | 3.5 | 110 | November | 2 | 60 | December | 1.5 | 45 | Year | 4.6 | 1675 |
|---|
Zurich - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
(January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December)
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.1 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -1.3 °C (29.7 °F) and a maximum of 3.5 °C (38.2 °F). 
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -12.6 °C (9.3 °F) in January 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it reached 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) in January 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).
February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.1 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -1.1 °C (30 °F) and a maximum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F). On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -16.9 °C (1.6 °F) in February 2012.On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) in February 2017.Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).
March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.1 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2 °C (35.6 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F). On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -14.1 °C (6.6 °F) in March 2005.On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 21.6 °C (70.9 °F) in March 2016.Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.9 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.6 °C (58.3 °F). On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in April 2003.On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in April 2012.Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.0 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 9.1 °C (48.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F). On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.3 °C (31.5 °F) in May 2019.On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 31.8 °C (89.2 °F) in May 2009.Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.6 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.7 °C (54.8 °F) and a maximum of 22.4 °C (72.4 °F). On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) in June 2006.On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 34.7 °C (94.5 °F) in June 2003.Precipitation amounts to 125 mm (4.9 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.7 °F). On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) in July 1993.On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) in July 2013.Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.1 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14.3 °C (57.8 °F) and a maximum of 23.9 °C (75 °F). On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) in August 1998.On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in August 2003.Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66.3 °F). On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in September 2002.On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) in September 2009.Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.5 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 7.2 °C (44.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.8 °C (56.8 °F). On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -4.3 °C (24.3 °F) in October 1997.On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) in October 2009.Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.6 °F) and a maximum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F). On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.9 °C (14.2 °F) in November 1998.On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 21.4 °C (70.5 °F) in November 2020.Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.8 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) and a maximum of 4 °C (39.3 °F). On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.4 °C (6.1 °F) in December 2001.On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (53 °F). However, it reached 16.3 °C (61.3 °F) in December 1993.Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 18% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
