Switzerland swelters as temperature hits 36°C in Geneva

On average, heatwaves claim more lives than storms or floods each year. In Switzerland, a level 3 heat warning is issued when the daily average temperature is above 25 degrees for a span of three or more days. Keystone / Salvatore Di Nolfi

Switzerland recorded temperatures of 33-35 degrees Celsius across parts of the country on Sunday afternoon, said the Federal Office for Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss). In Geneva it reached 36.2°C at 3.30pm.

In Basel, Mathoud (canton Vaud) and Sion (Valais), the mercury hit 35°C on Sunday afternoon, while it was 34°C in Payerne (Vaud), Delémont (Jura) and Schaffhausen.

On Saturday, temperatures had already risen in canton Valais to 31.8°C at 11.30am, according to MeteoSwiss. The city of Chur in canton Graubünden also saw temperatures over 31°C. Exceptionally high temperatures were also anticipated at higher altitudes.

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On Saturday the authorities announced heat danger level 3 (on a scale of 1-5) through to Wednesday across the entire country for areas below 800 metres altitude. In Switzerland, a level 3 heat warning is issued when the daily average temperature is above 25°C for three days or more. After three consecutive days of an average daily temperature of 25 °C or higher, MeteoSwiss classifies this as a heatwave. According to MeteoSwiss, these danger levels mean greater risk of an adverse reaction to human health.

In canton Ticino and Lake Geneva, the danger level was raised to 4, which means a high risk of circulatory problems and physical discomfort.

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Temperatures are not due to fall on Monday. MeteoSwiss expects temperatures over 20°C in the lowlands in the early morning and temperatures of up to 34°C in the afternoon. According to the weather service, the “zero-degree limit”, the altitude above which the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius, rose to 5,298 m, a Swiss record, on the night of August 20-21.

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Several cantons have activated a heatwave plan. Earlier this week a Swiss construction union called for a work on building sites to stop due to the high temperatures, citing health and safety concerns.

Correction: This article originally stated “Heat danger level 3 applied to some regions in Switzerland”. On Saturday the authorities announced heat danger level 3 (on a scale of 1-5) through to Wednesday across the entire country for areas below 800 metres altitude.