Summary of the hot summer 22 – second warmest summer and very dry – Meteo
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After the “summer of the century” in 2003, 2022 was the second warmest summer since records began. With more than 38 degrees, it was hotter than it had been since 2015, and there was also a new record of 61 hot days in Stabio. Drought was a top issue throughout the summer.
The “summer of the century” 2003 is still remembered by many. In terms of average temperature, 2022 was clearly , but in terms of summer heat, the current summer was at the same or similar level in many areas. The summer of 2003 and the summer of 2022 are also on a par in terms of drought and sunshine duration.
A total of 4 degrees too warm
Compared to the climatologically relevant norm of the years 1961 to 1990, the summer of 2022 was around 4 degrees too warm. The temperature excess was particularly large in the west, for example in Geneva with 4.5 degrees. In 2003, however, the excess temperature was again around 1 degree higher at around 5 degrees. The night temperatures were mainly responsible for this difference. Especially on the north side of the Alps, the nights were significantly cooler in 2022, often also caused by a strong breeze, which brought cooler and darker air to us from the east. It is hardly surprising that the difference between 2003 and 2022 is smallest in Ticino and especially in Valais. In Sion, 2003 was only 0.3 degrees warmer than the current summer.
Two heat waves with 38 degrees
This summer, several heat waves swept over us. The waves were clearest around July 19 and August 4. The value of 38 degrees was exceeded on two days in Geneva. Incidentally, the 38.3 degrees on August 4 is the highest temperature in Switzerland since July 7, 2015. At that time, 39.7 degrees were also recorded in Geneva, the highest temperature officially measured on the north side of the Alps. Temperatures were recorded locally like never before. In Stabio, in southern Ticino, the old record of 36.3 degrees from 1983 was broken twice. The new high is 36.5 degrees registered on July 22nd. However, it was even hotter in Ticino on August 6th, when 37.0 degrees were measured in Biasca. It was also the highest temperature ever measured there, but the series of trade fairs there only goes back to 2017. There was also a new station high on the Corvatsch. With 14.0 degrees on July 22nd, the old maximum temperature from 2019 was exceeded by 0.7 degrees. The absolute maximum temperature in Switzerland of 41.5 degrees in Grono, measured in August 2003, remained untouched.
More than 60 hot days
In Stabio, 61 days with 30 degrees or more were counted. That has never happened in Switzerland before. Until now, the 57 hot days in 2003, also registered in Stabio, have been the maximum. This value reflects the long period of drought and heat in the Po Valley, which also affected southern Ticino. Even 65 hot days were reported from Biasca, but due to the short series of measurements, a classification is not possible there. In Sion there were 45 hot days this summer, one more than in 2018 and 2015 and 3 more than in 2003. North of the Alps, on the other hand, almost twice as many hot days were recorded in most places in 2003 as in 2022.
The great drought
In many places it was extremely dry for weeks. The sometimes heavy downpours at the end of August alone improved the statistics significantly. The drought in Geneva was extremely extreme. In July there was only 8 millimeters of rain and during the whole summer only 115 millimeters of rain fell. In most other places north of the Alps, however, 1947 in particular was significantly drier, but mostly also 2018. South of the Alps, the summer of 2015 in particular was massively drier than the summer of 2022.
Sun in permanent stress
The summer of 2022 is one of the sunniest since measurements began. North of the Alps, the years 2003, 2015 and 2018 are roughly at the same altitude. July was the sun month par excellence this year. The sunniest July since the start of measurements was recorded at a total of 35 measurement locations. 374½ hours of sunshine were recorded in Geneva. This is the highest monthly sunshine duration in Switzerland. The old record dates back to 1911. At that time, 370 hours of sunshine were measured in Bern in July. However, caution should be exercised when making comparisons, since measurement technology has changed in the meantime.