Swiss weather service points to rise in erratic weather
Over the past 12 months the weather in most of Switzerland has been "too dry", according to SRF Meteo, while eastern regions and the Alps saw above-average precipitation.
This content was published on
1 minute
SRF/sb
In its annual report published on Tuesday, the German-language national broadcaster’s weather service said the 2018-2019 hydrological year, which runs from October 1 to September 30, was drier than the previous year, especially in the west and south.
This was surprising, SRF said, as the summer of 2018 was the second-driest since 1947.
However, the eastern Plateau region, north and central Graubünden and the Alps witnessed above-average precipitation during the 12 months. The town of Chur, for example saw 25% more precipitation than average, and Säntis and St Gallen also reported above-average rain.
“In general, the trend towards bigger year-on-year fluctuations in weather patterns was confirmed,” SRF said.
Despite a snowy winter, Switzerland’s glaciers suffered, shrinking in length and volume, SRF said. The summer of 2019 was the third warmest after 2003 and 2015.
More
More
July heatwave adds to one of hottest Swiss summers on record
This content was published on
The month of July, as well as the combined period of June-July, have been among the hottest ever on record in Switzerland.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
Swiss martyr beatified in Barcelona by Catholic Church
This content was published on
François-Benjamin May (1870-1909), a member of the Marist Brothers congregation, has been recognised as a 'blessed' by the Catholic Church.
Prevention and tech could help save billions on Swiss healthcare costs, says Deloitte
This content was published on
By focusing on prevention and technology, it would be possible to reduce Switzerland's healthcare bill by CHF30 billion a year by 2040, according to Deloitte Switzerland.
Environment director warns of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland
This content was published on
The director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has warned of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland in an interview with SonntagsBlick on Sunday.
Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season
This content was published on
The start of the summer holidays saw a long traffic jam in front of the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday. Traffic jams between Erstfeld and Göschenen in canton Uri were up to 11 kilometres long early in the morning.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
July heatwave adds to one of hottest Swiss summers on record
This content was published on
The month of July, as well as the combined period of June-July, have been among the hottest ever on record in Switzerland.
This content was published on
Snow has arrived in Switzerland, with places in the Alps reporting snowfall down to 1,400 metres. Some passes and routes have been disrupted.
Thunder and lightning lash large parts of Switzerland
This content was published on
Heavy thunderstorms have hit northern regions, interrupting flights from the country’s main airport and prompting the shutdown of a nuclear reactor.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.