Danger level 3 will apply across the country from Saturday until Wednesday below an altitude of 800 metres. This includes a considerable risk of circulatory problems and physical discomfort for people, MeteoSwissExternal link said on Thursday.
Local temperatures of up to 33°C are expected as early as Friday.
According to private weather service MeteoNewsExternal link, the heatwave is expected to peak on Saturday and towards the middle of next week. It said absolute record values were possible locally and especially at higher altitudes.
Drought and forest fires
MeteoNews expects the zero-degree line – the height at which the temperature goes into the minus – to rise to over 5,100 metres above sea level by Monday night. This could break the previous record of 5,184 metres set on July 25, 2022, in Payerne, canton Vaud.
More
More
Zero-degree line climbs to record level
This content was published on
On Sunday night the zero-degree line reached 5,184 metres above sea level, a new record.
With the extreme temperatures, glaciers would be even more affected by increased ice melt, it said.
The drought will also worsen, MeteoNews added, as August in particular was too dry, especially in western Switzerland and in parts of the Valais and Ticino. This is reflected, among other things, in the current high risk of forest fires in parts of the Valais and Geneva, it said.
On Thursday the national alert app Alertswiss of the Federal Office for Civil Protection issued a forest fire warning for parts of canton Geneva.
More
More
Swiss army steps up help to contain forest fires
This content was published on
Forest fires in Switzerland are said to be stable but require extra help from the army to extinguish.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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
Swiss forest fire dies down, but further flare-ups can’t be ruled out
This content was published on
Large fires which broke out three weeks ago in southern Switzerland have stabilised enough to allow a return to normality, authorities have said.
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.