Rainfall forecast in the coming days could relieve the prolonged drought that has had serious consequences on Switzerland’s agriculture, water levels, and nature.
The drought has affected farming – not only crops but a lack of hay to feed cows – along with water levels in Swiss lakes and rivers that are currently at their lowest in decades.
READ MORE: Swiss rivers and lakes at lowest levels in 20 years
Furthermore, the lack of rain and resulting drought conditions has also increased the risk of wildfires – at its highest level across much of Switzerland this summer – during the dry spell.
Now, however, forecasts suggest that there is finally hope of some much-needed relief.
Rain is on the way
According to MeteoSwiss, Switzerland’s federal weather service, on the afternoon of Friday August 14th thunderstorms and rain will develop in the Alps and along the Jura mountains, potentially spreading to the plains by evening.
On Saturday, we can expect more of the same, with a renewed risk of thunderstorms extending down to the plains.
The unanswered question is whether the rainfall will be abundant enough to penetrate dry soils deeply enough to counter the drought conditions.
Meteorologists say several days of continued rain is needed for the water to spread evenly over the soil and remedy the drought.
What is the forecast for next week?
Swiss locals and foreigners in Switzerland may want a good drenching of rain this weekend, because forecasts suggest dry conditions again from Monday, when it will become “increasingly sunny and generally dry,” MeteoSwiss says, with temperatures dropping slightly.
For the rest of the week, temperatures are predicted to be between 29-30C.
