Switzerland Today

Sunny regards from Bern!

In the words of pop-singer Katy Perry: its hot then it’s cold!

Switzerland is experiencing fluctuating weather this week, and since the summer is famously slow for news, media outlets are covering the weather extensively. And this briefing is not an exception. Fire, wind, hailstorms, rain-induced rockslide and even snow in July, this briefing covers all the strange weather from Switzerland this week.

Keystone / Michael Buholzer

In the news: satisfaction with health coverage benefits, ongoing bird flu measures and slowing mergers and acquisition activity in Swiss small businesses.

• Swiss residents appear to be satisfied with health insurance benefits, however, they are critical of the cost of premiums.
• Bird flu measures have been extended until mid-October. While improvements in infection rates have been noted, the avian flu has persisted in canton Zurich, St Gallen, Thurgau and Vaud.
• The level of merger and acquisition activity among Swiss small and medium sized companies slowed in the first half of the year due to economic and geopolitical challenges.
• Heavy rain speeds up slide of mountain towards the Swiss village Brienz/Brinzauls.

Helicopters have been working around the clock to douse the forest fire near to Bitsch. © Keystone / Jean-christophe Bott

Strange summer weather for Switzerland

The Swiss alps are burning

In canton Valais, a forest fire has been raging this week, causing residents of the village of Bitsch to evacuate. Around 80 firefighters supported by helicopters have been deployed to the affected area.

Around 100 hectares of forest has burned thus far, and the windy weather conditions have complicated the extinguishing efforts.

A “not tornado” hits Swiss town

Speaking of windy weather, a violent storm gust hit the Swiss town on La Chaux-de-Fonds. Although it was called a tornado early on, MeteoSwiss, the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, have been clear that the wind gust does not classify as a tornado.

Regardless, the destruction that hit the town was still catastrophic. Winds up to 217 km/h blew through La Chaux-de-Fonds, which is recognisable from its one long strip of road that cuts directly through the middle of the town.

In just five minutes, the storm was able to cause CHF90 million ($104 million) in damage. “This day will leave a mark on the town residents,” said mayor of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Jean-Daniel Jeanneret.

Hailstorms in holiday hotspot, Ticino

Speaking of leaving a mark: canton Ticino experienced a torrent of hail, with falling ice completely covering the streets in the aftermath. Some hailstones were more than six centimetres in size.

The storm also brought with it extensive lighting strikes: over 100 lighting strikes were recorded in a five square kilometer radius in canton Ticino in one evening alone.

The damage has yet to be calculated, but the Lugano Sud shopping center was said to be completely flooded.

Storms cause a case of déjà vu for residents of Brienz/Brinzauls

The increased rainfall this July has caused the mountainside of the Brienz/Brinzauls mountain to accelerate its movement this week. Around 85 millimeters of rain have fallen this past month.

However, a statement made by the village authorities says there is currently no imminent danger, but the developments are being closely monitored.

Snow in July?

While many visitors heading to Switzerland this summer have probably packed bathing suits for their holidays, maybe a winter coat would be more appropriate.

Yesterday, on the Weissfluhjoch mountain summit in canton Graubünden, five centimetres of snow fell, dusting the mountainside with white flecks.

#WintereinbruchExternal link in den #AlpenExternal link ❄️. Ein Schäumchen #NeuschneeExternal link gabs auf dem #WeissfluhjochExternal link ob #DavosExternal link, auf dem #SäntisExternal link wurden 5 cm Neuschnee gemessen. Der Juli-Neuschnee-Rekord stammt ebenfalls vom Säntis: 44 cm Neuschnee am Morgen des 9. Juli 1996. ^jz pic.twitter.com/atpYxgOyYwExternal link

— SRF Meteo (@srfmeteo) July 26, 2023External link

However, this is not an anomaly for the Swiss mountains in the summer.

The Säntis mountain holds the record for the most snowfall in July, recording 44 centimetres on July 9, 1996.