Climate

Switzerland’s climate is strongly affected by the nearby Atlantic Ocean. The prevailing winds from the west bring damp, mild sea air over to Switzerland. Cooling in the summer and warming in the winter, they also bring sufficient precipitation all year round in most areas. The Alps act as a clear climatic divider between northern and southern Switzerland; as its weather comes primarily from the direction of the Mediterranean, the south enjoys much milder winters than the north. Temperatures in Switzerland depend primarily on height above sea level. In the northern lowlands, the average temperature in January is around 1°C, and in July around 17°C, whereas on the southern plateau the corresponding average temperatures are 2-3°C higher.