Your February weather guide
CoolWeather in Switzerland in February
February suits a Switzerland trip if you are happy with cold weather and flexible outdoor plans, but it is a poor choice for warmth. Average daytime highs are 5.8°C, nights fall to -1.9°C, and about 12 days have rain. For a UK traveller, the catch is not just the chill: wet weather can make lingering outdoors less appealing. Go prepared for winter conditions rather than expecting a mild break, and leave room to change plans when the weather turns.
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
- 5.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 12°C
- Average night-time low
- -1.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -7°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -2.1°C
- London averages 7.9°C in February
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.5h
- 35% of 10.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 84 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 78%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 16.5°C
- 2008-02-24
- Record low 1991-2020
- -18.3°C
- 2012-02-07
- 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 February compares
February is the 10th warmest month of the year in Switzerland. Against London's average high of 7.9°C in February, Switzerland is 2.1°C cooler by day and 3.9°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in February
The typical February day in Switzerland peaks at 5.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 12.0°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -1.9°C; one night in ten drops to -6.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest February day here reached 16.5°C (2008-02-24) and the coldest night -18.3°C (2012-02-07).
Rain in February
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 84 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest February was 1999 with 243 mm, the driest 1998 with 26 mm. Humidity averages 78%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:33 and sets about 17:47 local time in mid-February. Average cloud cover is 65%.
Is February a good time to visit Switzerland?
February is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Switzerland on our scoring are July, August, June.
Pack for freezing nights, not just cool afternoons
The daytime average can sound manageable, but clothing needs to work beyond the mildest part of the afternoon. Take a warm coat, layers, gloves and footwear that can cope with wet conditions. Nights average below freezing, and the coldest 10% fall to -6.5°C or lower, so evening plans call for more than a light jacket. There can be milder spells, with the warmest 10% of days reaching 12°C or more, but do not build your packing around them. February makes more sense for travellers comfortable wrapping up and taking indoor breaks than for anyone hoping to spend the whole day outside without thinking about the cold.
Keep outdoor plans flexible
Rain is a meaningful part of the February picture, so a waterproof outer layer is more useful than relying on a warm coat alone. About 12 rainy days means you should be ready to move outdoor plans around rather than treat a dry day as a given. There are about 10 hours of daylight, but only 3.5 hours of sunshine on average: usable daylight does not mean clear skies. Put weather-dependent plans into the brighter spells and keep indoor alternatives available. This is a workable month if you do not mind adjusting your day, but less suitable if reliable sunshine is central to the trip.
A little perspective
Switzerland through the year
February 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% |
| FebruarySelected | 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% |
| Augustbest | 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 February
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Switzerland in February FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Switzerland hot in February?
Switzerland is cool in February: the average daytime high is 5.8°C and nights average -1.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in February.
How much does it rain in Switzerland in February?
Switzerland sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 84 mm of rain in a typical February. The wettest February between 1991 and 2020 was 1999 (243 mm) and the driest was 1998 (26 mm).
How sunny is Switzerland in February?
Switzerland gets around 3.5 hours of sunshine a day in February out of 10.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Switzerland compare with the UK in February?
Switzerland is on average 2.1°C cooler than London by day in February (5.8°C against 7.9°C).
What is the hottest February on record in Switzerland?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest February day in Switzerland reached 16.5°C on 2008-02-24, and the coldest night dropped to -18.3°C on 2012-02-07.
Is Switzerland colder than London in February?
Yes. The average daytime high is 5.8°C, compared with 7.9°C in London, a difference of 2.1°C. Nights average -1.9°C, so pack for freezing evenings rather than assuming your usual mild-weather coat will be enough.
Should I go in February or wait for summer?
Choose February if you are comfortable with cold, wet weather and flexible plans. If warmth is the priority, wait: July, August and June are the better-rated months. February is not a good fit for a sunshine-led holiday.
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