Ticino records year’s highest temperature at 35.8°C

The heatwave intensified in canon Ticino on Saturday, with the municipality Biasca recording the highest temperature of the year so far at 35.8°C at 3:40 pm. In Basel, the Rhine Valley, Lake Geneva basin, and Valais, temperatures are expected to rise significantly from Sunday onwards.

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On the southern side of the Alps, where the federal government has already issued a level 4 (major danger) warning for Saturday, the heatwave is predicted to “intensify significantly,” according to the latest natural hazard bulletin. Night-time temperatures are also unlikely to fall below 20°C.

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The previous record for the year was already broken in Biasca on Saturday, as Marco Stoll from MeteoSwiss confirmed to the Keystone-SDA news agency. On 3rd July, 34.6°C was recorded in Biasca.

However, the hottest phase in canton Ticino is expected from Sunday lunchtime until Monday evening. The federal government issues a level 4 warning if the average daily temperature reaches 27°C or more for at least three consecutive days. This warning is in place in Ticino until Tuesday evening.

Up to 35°C expected in Lake Geneva and Valais

In canton Valais and the Lake Geneva region, the federal government is also anticipating maximum temperatures of 32°C to 35°C from Sunday. In the Basel region and the Rhine Valley, temperatures are likely to reach heatwave thresholds of 31°C to 33°C in lowland areas. Night-time temperatures are expected to remain warm, between 18°C and 22°C.

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These areas will face “considerable danger” with a level 3 warning until Tuesday, indicating an average daily temperature of 25°C or higher for at least three consecutive days. MeteoSwiss classifies this as a heatwave. A temporary dip in temperatures may occur on Monday evening due to thunderstorms.

The hottest August day on record in Switzerland was measured at 41.5°C in 2003 in canton Graubünden. However, due to the relocation of the measuring station, this would have been recorded as 40.5°C at the new site, according to MeteoSwiss.

Adapted from German by DeepL/amva

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