Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 12 hrs ago
Rain eases Switzerland’s drought only briefly as water levels remain low
Several rainy autumn days brought 20 to 40 millimetres of rain to parts of northern Switzerland.
But the rain only eased the drought for a short time, and the overall situation remains strained.
Over the past 30 days, rainfall averaged less than half the usual amount across much of Switzerland, and some places received only 15 to 35 per cent of normal.
Rivers and lakes in the Jura and central plateau remain unusually low, while the Rhine has recorded record-low levels.
Dry conditions have also kept wildfire danger high, with very high danger in parts of the Upper Valais.
Little rain is expected next week, though a longer-term outlook suggests rainfall deficits could gradually shrink over the next 90 days.
Autumn rain eased Switzerland’s acute drought only temporarily, and the overall situation remains strained.
Water levels in rivers and lakes remain exceptionally low in parts of the Jura and Central Plateau, with record-low readings on the High Rhine.
In the 30 days before the report, average precipitation was below 50 percent of the long-term norm.
Some areas still face high or very high forest-fire danger.
MeteoSwiss expects little rain in the coming week, though precipitation deficits may gradually decline over a longer period.
- Who
- Switzerland, with MeteoSwiss reporting on the drought and water conditions.
- What
- Rain eased the drought only briefly, while water levels and river flows remained low.
- When
- The report was published on October 11, 2026; autumn rain fell through the weekend.
- Where
- Switzerland, especially the northern side of the Alps, the Jura, the Central Plateau and the High Rhine.
- Why
- Prolonged warm periods and a continuing precipitation deficit left the ground and water systems dry; some rain evaporated or ran off.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
In the past 30 days, precipitation averaged less than 50 percent of the long-term norm
meteorologically almost textbook
Rainy autumn days began, especially on the northern side of the Alps.
MeteoSwiss described the weather pattern in a blog post as meteorologically almost textbook.
Autumn rain temporarily eased the drought, but the overall situation remained strained.
A MeteoSwiss spokesperson said average precipitation over the previous 30 days was below 50 percent of the long-term norm.
MeteoSwiss expected only isolated drops of rain and otherwise dry days.
- Rainfall on the northern side of the Alps
- 20 to 40 millimetres
- Precipitation over the previous 30 days
- Average below 50 percent of the long-term norm
- Lowest local precipitation
- 15 to 35 percent of the norm
- Low river flows
- Statistically occur only once every 10 to 30 years at numerous stations
- High Rhine
- Record-low levels recorded
- Coming week’s forecast highs
- Up to 19°C in German- and French-speaking Switzerland
Sources
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