Today's weather for Geneva, Switzerland21st Nov 2009 05:00

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Weather Overview for Geneva

Geneva has a temperate climate with all four seasons. Summers are hot and winters are cold but there are no real extremes of temperature. The city sits on the southwest bank of Lake Geneva in eastern tip of Switzerland. It is surrounded by the Swiss Alps and the Jura Mountains. These mountains block much of the wind flowing towards Geneva and make it one of the driest areas in Switzerland. Rainfall is still at a moderate level all year despite this.

Summer, between June and September, enjoys an ideal level of heat. The average high temperature gets to 22°C in June then peaks at 25°C in July; August is only slightly cooler at 24°C and September is still at 20°C. It cools off considerably at night which can be pleasantly refreshing. It can get into the high 20s during the day but the southwest winds coming up the valley usually keep conditions comfortable.

Rain falls quite frequently in short showers which are sometimes thunderstorms towards the end of the season. Sunshine levels peak in July at eight hours per day; June and August are still very sunny but September only sees six hours per day. The lake is warm enough for swimming; it is usually warmer towards the west.

Autumn, in October and November, cools down quickly. Conditions are very changeable and worsen as the season progresses. The average high temperature falls to 14°C in October and 8°C in November, and the average low to 5°C and 2°C respectively. From the beginning of the season you’ll need a light coat and by the end you’ll be piling the layers on. In November it can fall below freezing at night. While rainfall does not alter much, clouds come to dominate the sky. Sunshine levels reduce to four hours per day in October and two in November.

Winter, from December till February, is rather chilly. January is the coldest month with an average high of 4°C and an average low of -2°C, though December and February are barely warmer. These temperatures are hardly extreme but the north and northeast winds that prevail in winter and blow down the mountains can make it seem bitterly cold. Precipitation levels do not alter much but precipitation often falls as snow and even sometimes in ice storms. Up on the mountains snow settles for the entire season. Sunshine levels do not improve until February which sees an average of three hours per day.

Spring, between March and May, is mild and bright. The average high temperature gradually improves, getting to 9°C in March, 14°C in April and 18°C in May. Nights are cold; they rarely get above 10°C even at the end of the season. However, the temperature is highly susceptible to sunshine levels which jump up to six hours per day as early as April. From the middle of the season temperatures in the high teens can develop on clear days and in May it can get up to 20°C. Rainfall levels are still moderate and it can suddenly be cool again on grey, blustery days.

Geneva is an interesting city that provides a unique mix of activities for your holiday. It is one of the world’s financial centres and the metropolitan area has all of the shops, restaurants and bars to be expected from a European cosmopolitan city. But the lake is never far away and building restrictions mean the mountains are always in view. In the summer the mountains provide an accessible escape into nature with endless cycling and hiking trails; the lake is clean and warm enough for swimming. Sailing can be enjoyed out of the peak seasons but rarely in the winter. In the winter snow-shoeing and skiing are close at hand – as is the famous ski resort of Chamonix, just over the border.

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