Climate in Zurich — Annual Weather Overview
Zurich has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. The hottest month is July (average high 24.6°C) and the coolest is January (4.6°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 20.0°C swing between July highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 1283mm. July is the wettest month at 156.6mm, while March averages just 66.8mm. Average daily sunshine is 8.3 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 14.4°C, 285mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 24.2°C, 421mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 15.1°C, 290mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 6.0°C, 287mm rain.
Zurich — Monthly Temperatures
Zurich — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Zurich stays reasonable all year.
Zurich weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.6°C | -1.4°C | 80.1mm | 5.1h | 10 | 8/10 |
| February | 8.3°C | -0.0°C | 74.2mm | 6.7h | 12 | 10/10 |
| March | 10.8°C | 0.9°C | 66.8mm | 8.5h | 10 | 10/10 |
| April | 14.3°C | 3.8°C | 88.6mm | 9.8h | 11 | 10/10 |
| May | 18.1°C | 8.5°C | 129.5mm | 10.1h | 17 | 9/10 |
| June | 23.8°C | 13.6°C | 124.5mm | 11.9h | 14 | 9/10 |
| July | 24.6°C | 15.1°C | 156.6mm | 12.0h | 16 | 9/10 |
| August | 24.2°C | 15.1°C | 140.1mm | 10.2h | 12 | 9/10 |
| September | 20.9°C | 12.1°C | 82.5mm | 9.6h | 10 | 10/10 |
| October | 15.8°C | 7.8°C | 96.6mm | 7.3h | 12 | 10/10 |
| November | 8.6°C | 3.0°C | 110.5mm | 4.6h | 16 | 9/10 |
| December | 5.1°C | -0.3°C | 132.8mm | 3.6h | 16 | 9/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Zurich. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Zurich have?
Zurich has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. Average highs range from 4.6°C in January to 24.6°C in July.
What is the hottest month in Zurich?
July is the hottest month in Zurich, with average highs of 24.6°C and lows of 15.1°C.
What is the coldest month in Zurich?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 4.6°C and lows of -1.4°C.
What is the wettest month in Zurich?
July is the wettest month, averaging 156.6mm of rainfall over around 16 rainy days.
How much rain does Zurich get per year?
Zurich receives around 1283mm of rain per year. The driest month is March (66.8mm).
When is the best time to visit Zurich?
The best time to visit Zurich is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Zurich
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.