Cold front brings rain and autumn temperatures to Switzerland

A cold front will bring widespread rain, wind and temperatures around 15 degrees to Switzerland from Thursday, with conditions returning to warmer levels from the middle of next week, SRF reports, citing meteorologist Gaudenz Flury.

Rainfall totals are expected to reach 10 to 25 millimetres along the northern edge of Switzerland and in the eastern Central Plateau. The central and western Central Plateau, the Jura and the Alpine foothills could receive 25 to 40 millimetres. The rain should cause few problems, although some streams may temporarily swell.

The rainfall will ease dry conditions only temporarily. It is not enough to bring lasting relief: soil will be moistened only in its upper layers, while lakes and rivers are expected to rise by just a few centimetres.

In the high mountains above 3,000 metres, up to 50 centimetres of snow could fall locally, though strong winds will shift it. In inhabited areas, only a few flakes are expected, and any snow cover will be brief, if it forms at all. Drivers planning to cross an Alpine pass on summer tyres should consider an alternative route.

Flury said temperatures would temporarily return to levels normal for this time of year. The calendar has already marked the start of autumn, he said, and from Thursday the thermometer will reflect it too.