Forecast for Swiss National Day weekend: Will it be rain or shine?
Forecast for Swiss National Day: Changeable Weather with Occasional Showers
Swiss National Day on August 1st, 2025, is set to be marked by changeable weather, with occasional showers and local thunderstorms, according to MeteoNews predictions. A low-pressure system over Denmark will dominate, causing most precipitation on that day.
Across the country, temperatures will vary. In the north and center, they are expected to hover around 20°C, while temperatures in the south will be warmer and sunnier, reaching 25-26°C.
In Basel, north-west Switzerland, only short episodes of drizzle are expected throughout the day. However, in Lugano, Italian-speaking Ticino, temperatures are forecast to rise to 27°C.
In contrast, mountainous areas like Zermatt, Gotthard Pass, and Piz Bernina will continue to see sub-20°C temperatures.
The rain is expected to peter out again on Sunday, with most cantons anticipated to have sunny spells and drizzle to end the week. Umbrellas may be required on Saturday in much of the country, as cooler and wetter weather are forecast, with temperatures dropping to around 20°C in most cantons.
Over in Geneva, it's set to be warmer and sunnier (25°C), but there could be some very light showers between midday and 6pm, along with long sunny spells and close to eight hours of sunshine. From 3pm in Lugano, storms and light to moderate rain (up to 3mm) are forecast, which might affect festivities.
From Tuesday, temperatures are expected to increase, and sunny spells are forecast to displace the heavy rain in most cantons. However, on Sunday afternoon, the Federal Office for the Environment issued a weather warning, and MeteoNews predicted heavy rain causing flooding and landslides in eastern, central Switzerland, and the Bernese Oberland.
Zurich is predicted to be dry for most of Swiss National Day, with very light rain forecast late at night, highs of 23°C, and almost seven hours of sunshine. Thunderstorms are expected in several areas, including Zurich, Basel, Lausanne, and Saint Gallen, on Saturday.
In Chur, the forecast shows only four hours of sun and drizzle for most of the afternoon (up to 2mm), with showers expected to get heavier after 6pm (up to 3mm).
Piz Bernina is forecast to move above freezing to 0°C by Friday, indicating a slight improvement in the weather conditions starting Sunday, August 3rd. The weather is expected to become more stable and friendly after the holiday.
Based on MeteoNews predictions, Swiss National Day on August 1st, 2025, will feature changeable weather with occasional showers and local thunderstorms, which is characteristic of weather-forecasting for the day. Across the country, the weather-forecasting anticipates temperatures to vary significantly, with some regions experiencing showery conditions and cooler temperatures, while others may have sunnier and warmer weather.
