If you are not yet fluent in any of the Swiss national languages, you may not know whether another heatwave is on the way this summer.
Let’s start with German.
Official weather forecasts are given in standard German rather than in Schwiizerdütsch (unless they are relayed to you verbally), so it will be easier for you to follow.
These words and phrases are the most commonly used ones in heat-related weather forecasts from Switzerland’s Meteorological Institute, MeteoSwiss in all three languages.
Here is the lingo you need to know:
Heatwave: Hitzewelle
Record-breaking temperatures: Rekordhohe Temperaturen
Heatwave advisory: Hitzewarnung
Heatstroke: Hitzschlag
Humidity: Luftfeuchtigkeit
Tropical weather: Tropisches Wetter
Drought: Trockenheit
Heat island: Hitzeinsel
Global warming: Globale Erwärmung
French
Heatwave: Canicule
Record-breaking temperatures: Températures record
Heatwave warning: Alerte canicule
Heatstroke: Coup de chaleur
Humidity: Humidité
Tropical weather: Climat tropical
Drought: Sécheresse
Heat island: Îlot de chaleur
Global warming: Réchauffement climatique
And Italian
Heatwave: Canicola
Record-breaking temperatures: Temperature da record
Heatwave advisory: Avviso di ondata di calore
Heat stroke: Colpo di calore
Humidity: Umidità
Tropical weather: Clima tropicale
Drought: Siccità
Heat island: Isola di calore
Global warming: Il riscaldamento globale
Why is is important to know these words?
First of all, it will be easier for you to follow the weather forecast.
But even more importantly, you will be up to date on any advisories issued by the government.
For instance, to stay safe and healthy in an extremely hot weather, you need to know phrases such as ‘Heatwave advisory’, ‘Drought’, and ‘Heat island’ i(where city temperatures are at their highest), in the very least.
What are some good resources for protecting you from the heatwave’s effect?
The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has an extensive list of recommendations about what to do (and not do) in a heatwave.
Additionally, individual municipalities also have tips and resources for avoiding heat-related health issues:
You can check your community’s website for locally-relevant tips as well.
