Switzerland notches up wettest March on record

Switzerland has endured the wettest March since records began in 1864 Keystone Archive

Switzerland has endured the wettest March since records began in 1864. On average, there were only six days when rain did not fall in Switzerland over the past month.

Some parts of the country saw rainy conditions during all 31 days of March. In low-lying areas, 4.5 times as much rain fell as can usually be expected during that period.

Cantons Jura and Valais saw the most rain, according to a weather report issued by the Swiss meteorological office, MétéoSuisse.

In the lowlands north of the Alps, between 320 and 450 per cent more rain fell than the average for March. In canton Valais, over 300 per cent more rain fell, while in canton Ticino – considered to be the sunniest area of Switzerland – the figure was 200 per cent.

Since 1864, there has only been one other period of wet weather to match the rain of the last month: Switzerland’s wettest spell on record was between February and March in 1876.

Despite the lack of sunshine, March also saw unseasonably mild temperatures. On average, temperatures have been between 2.5 and 3.5 degrees warmer than normal.

swissinfo with agencies