Your August weather guide
WarmWeather in Switzerland in August
August is a good choice for Switzerland if you want warm days without relying on constant sunshine. Average highs are around 23°C, nights cool to about 15°C, and there are roughly 15 rainy days. That makes it comfortable for spending time outdoors, but less suitable if dry weather is your main priority. Go with flexible plans and room in your bag for a waterproof and an evening layer, rather than packing only summer clothes.
Long-term climate averages for Zurich, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Switzerland, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Zurich.
- Average daytime high
- 23.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 29°C
- Average night-time low
- 14.8°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 11°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +1.7°C
- London averages 21.4°C in August
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.1h
- 43% of 14.1 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 15
- 146 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 33%
- 6% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 34.6°C
- 2003-08-13
- Record low 1991-2020
- 6.9°C
- 1993-08-29
- Flight from London
- ≈ 1 h 42 min
- 760 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How August compares
August is the 2nd warmest month of the year in Switzerland. Against London's average high of 21.4°C in August, Switzerland is 1.7°C warmer by day and 1.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in August
The typical August day in Switzerland peaks at 23.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 3 days top 25°C and 1 in 17 pass 30°C. Nights average 14.8°C; one night in ten drops to 11.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day here reached 34.6°C (2003-08-13) and the coldest night 6.9°C (1993-08-29).
Rain in August
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 15 days with 1 mm or more, 146 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest August was 2005 with 287 mm, the driest 1991 with 21 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.1 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:22 and sets about 20:38 local time in mid-August. Average cloud cover is 56%.
Is August a good time to visit Switzerland?
August is not the strongest month here: warm days and frequent rain. The best months for Switzerland on our scoring are July, August, June.
Warm days, with cooler evenings
The typical August day should feel warm rather than intensely hot, which suits travellers who prefer being outdoors without persistent heat. There is still a hotter side to the month: 33% of days reach 25°C, while 6% reach 30°C. Keep strenuous outdoor plans flexible when the temperature rises, and leave lighter activities for the hottest part of the day. Evenings call for a different approach. The average night is mild, but the coldest 10% of nights fall to 11.4°C or below. Light daytime clothing plus a jumper or jacket is a more useful combination than a wardrobe built entirely around heat.
Rain is the main compromise
Wet weather is the clearest reason to hesitate about August. Around 15 days have measurable rain, so a waterproof jacket belongs in your everyday bag rather than at the bottom of your luggage. That figure does not mean those days are wet throughout, but it does make a rigid schedule of outdoor activities a gamble. Sunshine averages about 6.1 hours within 14.1 hours of daylight, leaving a generous window for adjusting plans when conditions improve. Keep weather-sensitive outings movable and have an indoor alternative ready. August suits travellers who can work around rain better than those who want a reliably dry holiday.
A little perspective
Switzerland through the year
August is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.5°C | -1.8°C | 2.6 | 89 | 13 | 0% |
| February | 5.8°C | -1.9°C | 3.5 | 84 | 12 | 0% |
| March | 10.0°C | 0.9°C | 4.4 | 95 | 14 | 0% |
| April | 13.9°C | 3.9°C | 5.1 | 104 | 14 | 0% |
| May | 17.7°C | 8.4°C | 5.3 | 142 | 16 | 6% |
| Junebest | 21.2°C | 12.3°C | 6.2 | 143 | 16 | 23% |
| Julybest | 23.2°C | 14.5°C | 6.8 | 146 | 15 | 35% |
| AugustSelectedbest | 23.1°C | 14.8°C | 6.1 | 146 | 15 | 33% |
| September | 18.8°C | 11.0°C | 4.6 | 122 | 12 | 6% |
| October | 14.4°C | 7.1°C | 3.2 | 99 | 13 | 0% |
| November | 8.6°C | 2.3°C | 2.4 | 106 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 4.9°C | -0.8°C | 2.3 | 103 | 14 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in August
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Poland · 24°C by day
Krakow
France · 24°C by day
Paris
Slovenia · 24°C by day
Bled
Czechia · 25°C by day
Prague
Mauritius · 25°C by day · sea 24°C
Flic en Flac
A little more detail
Switzerland in August FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Switzerland hot in August?
Switzerland is warm in August: the average daytime high is 23.1°C and nights average 14.8°C. Roughly 1 in 3 August days reach 25°C.
How much does it rain in Switzerland in August?
Switzerland sees about 15 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 146 mm of rain in a typical August. The wettest August between 1991 and 2020 was 2005 (287 mm) and the driest was 1991 (21 mm).
How sunny is Switzerland in August?
Switzerland gets around 6.1 hours of sunshine a day in August out of 14.1 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Switzerland compare with the UK in August?
Switzerland is on average 1.7°C warmer than London by day in August (23.1°C against 21.4°C).
What is the hottest August on record in Switzerland?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day in Switzerland reached 34.6°C on 2003-08-13, and the coldest night dropped to 6.9°C on 1993-08-29.
Is Switzerland warmer than London in August?
On average, yes, but the difference is modest. The daytime high is 23.1°C compared with London's 21.4°C, a gap of 1.7°C. Expect a warmer daytime average rather than a dramatic change of climate, and still pack for rain and cooler evenings.
Is August a good month to choose?
Yes, if warmth matters more to you than reliably dry weather. August ranks second for warmth and sits alongside July and June among the best months overall. The catch is rain, so it is a stronger choice for flexible travellers than for a fixed outdoor itinerary.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Zürich (Zurich). Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C