Your November weather guide
CoolWeather in Switzerland in November
November suits a Switzerland trip if you are happy with cool weather, short days and flexible plans, rather than warmth or long spells outdoors. Average daytime highs are around 9°C, nights fall to around 2°C, and about 13 days have rain. Go if you can mix time outside with indoor breaks and dress for damp conditions. If your main aim is comfortable weather for spending most of the day outdoors, summer is a better choice.
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
- 8.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 14°C
- Average night-time low
- 2.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -2°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -1.8°C
- London averages 10.4°C in November
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 2.4h
- 27% of 9.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 13
- 106 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 85%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 20.0°C
- 2020-11-02
- Record low 1991-2020
- -8.7°C
- 1999-11-21
- 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 November compares
November is the 9th warmest month of the year in Switzerland. Against London's average high of 10.4°C in November, Switzerland is 1.8°C cooler by day and 2.6°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in November
The typical November day in Switzerland peaks at 8.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 14.1°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 2.3°C; one night in ten drops to -2.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest November day here reached 20.0°C (2020-11-02) and the coldest night -8.7°C (1999-11-21).
Rain in November
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 13 days with 1 mm or more, 106 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest November was 2002 with 237 mm, the driest 2011 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 85%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 2.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:30 and sets about 16:50 local time in mid-November. Average cloud cover is 74%.
Is November a good time to visit Switzerland?
November is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Switzerland on our scoring are July, August, June.
Cool afternoons and colder evenings
The daytime average is mild enough for walking with suitable layers, but not for sitting outside comfortably without a warm coat. Evenings need more thought: the coldest 10% of nights fall to -2.1°C or below, so pack for possible freezing conditions rather than relying on the average. There can be gentler afternoons, with the warmest 10% of days reaching 14.1°C or more, but treat those as a bonus. A warm outer layer, jumper and gloves give you more flexibility than a light jacket alone. This month suits travellers who enjoy cool-weather days and do not mind wrapping up after dark.
Keep outdoor plans flexible
Rain and limited light are the main catches. Sunshine averages about 2.4 hours a day within 9 hours of daylight, so do not expect every dry spell to be sunny. Put the outdoor part of your day into the available daylight and leave room to change plans when it rains. A waterproof coat and shoes that cope with wet conditions are more useful than clothing chosen only for the temperature. Keep indoor alternatives in mind rather than committing each day to being outside. If you need reliably bright weather to enjoy a holiday, November is a poor fit.
A little perspective
Switzerland through the year
November 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% |
| 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% |
| NovemberSelected | 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 November
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Switzerland in November FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Switzerland hot in November?
Switzerland is cool in November: the average daytime high is 8.6°C and nights average 2.3°C. Days over 25°C are rare in November.
How much does it rain in Switzerland in November?
Switzerland sees about 13 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 106 mm of rain in a typical November. The wettest November between 1991 and 2020 was 2002 (237 mm) and the driest was 2011 (2 mm).
How sunny is Switzerland in November?
Switzerland gets around 2.4 hours of sunshine a day in November out of 9.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Switzerland compare with the UK in November?
Switzerland is on average 1.8°C cooler than London by day in November (8.6°C against 10.4°C).
What is the hottest November on record in Switzerland?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest November day in Switzerland reached 20.0°C on 2020-11-02, and the coldest night dropped to -8.7°C on 1999-11-21.
Is Switzerland colder than London in November?
Yes. The average daytime high is 8.6°C, compared with 10.4°C in London, a difference of 1.8°C. That is a noticeable step down rather than a completely different daytime climate, but nights averaging 2.3°C make warm evening clothing important.
Which months are better for a weather-focused trip?
July, August and June are the better choices overall. November is cool and wet, so choose it for a trip that can work around the weather, not because you expect warm afternoons or plenty of sunshine.
Is the flight short enough for a brief trip?
The flight from London is about 1 h 42 min, so the flying time is short-haul. That makes a brief visit feasible, but November's limited daylight means it helps to keep your plans manageable rather than filling every day with outdoor activities.
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