Climate. The summer of 2022 will probably be the second hottest since measurements began.
In all likelihood, the summer of 2022 will be the second hottest since measurements began in 1864. According to MeteoSwiss, the nationwide average summer temperature for the months of June to August is likely to be more than 2 degrees above the norm for the years 1991 to 2020.
The meteorological summer of 2022 will be at the forefront, wrote Stephan Bader, climatologist at Meteoschweiz, the Federal Office for Meteorology and Climatology, on Tuesday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency.
MeteoSwiss asserted itself based on the previous measurement data and the available forecasts up to the end of August. Only the legendary hot summer of 2003 brought even more heat with three degrees above the norm.
Also noteworthy: According to Bader, second place in summer temperatures is evident in all regions of Switzerland.
Three hot spells
MeteoSwiss referred in particular to three periods of heat: The first started in mid-June, with the northern edge of Switzerland and the Neuchâtel and Sion regions leading the way with measured temperatures, each with over 36 degrees. The highest measured temperature was in Beznau in Aargau with 36.9 degrees.
The hot spell at the beginning of June came remarkably early, according to Bader. The measured high three-day heat at such an early time in the year is expected to be rarer than every 25 years.
Apart from the early point in time, however, the June heatwave was not unique, the climatologist put it into perspective. In Switzerland, for example, there was far more intense and longer-lasting heat in 2015, 2003, 1983 and 1947.
Unusually long duration
The second pronounced heat wave followed in mid-July. According to MeteoSwiss, what made it extraordinary was its duration – it lasted from July 14th to 26th. They were among the longest periods of heat that have ever been measured in Switzerland. Comparable prolonged heat has so far only occurred in July 2015 and August 2003.
However, only very few new heat records were measured, emphasized Bader.
Western and southern Switzerland were particularly hard hit. Accordingly, July 19 was the hottest day of the month for large parts of the northern side of the Alps. In many places north of the Alps and in Valais, the daily highs rose to 33 to 35 degrees, in some places even to 36 degrees and more. On the southern side of the Alps, the highest values are between 33 and 34.5 degrees.
Previous annual record in Geneva
At the beginning of August, the third hot period began, Meteoschweiz continued. On August 4, Geneva reported 38.3 degrees, the highest value of the Swiss summer of 2022.
For comparison: The absolute highest value ever measured on the north side of the Alps also comes from Geneva. It was 39.7 degrees and dated July 2015. The absolute Swiss record is held by Grono in Graubünden on the southern side of the Alps with 40.5 degrees. The value was reached on August 11, 2003.
The phase of very high temperatures ended on August 5th on the north side of the Alps and on August 6th in the south, it was said. However, hot days with 30 degrees or more can still occur on both sides of the Alps afterwards.
Lots of hot days
According to the information, 38 hot days were registered in Geneva by Monday. This is the second highest number since measurements began in 1864. The record comes from the hot summer of 2003 with 50 hot days.
Lugano also reported the second highest number of hot days with 35. The hot summer of 2003 delivered 47 hot days here.
Very dry July
There are still uncertainties as far as the summer balance of rain is concerned: According to the current status, this year’s summer is in third place with the least rain since the start of measurements, as Bader explained.
However, the precipitation up to the end of August is not included, the climatologist pointed out. Since thunderstorms are common at this time of year, the forecasts are very uncertain.
The lack of rain was particularly pronounced in July, according to Bader. In some of them, the monthly amounts were below 30 percent of the long-term norm, locally they were even less than 10 percent.
In the Vaud Jura, it was therefore the driest July in more than 50 years. On the southern side of the Alps, the July totals are usually between 40 and 70 percent of the norm. A less dramatic picture can be seen in the Eastern Alps: This spreads 70 to 80 percent, locally also 90 percent of the amount of rain to be expected based on the norm.
Miscellaneous, sda