snowingplaces

City in Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich

Switzerland's largest city, in the lowlands north of the Alps, with cold winters and occasional snow.

Forecast updated , when it was 14:00 in Zurich (GMT+1).

Zurich snow forecast

Next 24 hours

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Zurich in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from 6 to 11 °C (43 to 52 °F), the freezing level near 2,300 m (7,500 ft) and gusts up to 48 km/h (30 mph) over the next day.

Temperature now
10 °C (50 °F)
Freezing level
2,300 m (7,500 ft)
Wind
3 km/h (2 mph), gusts 9 km/h (6 mph)
Sky now
Partly cloudy, 47% cloud

Zurich hour by hour

Hourly snowfall
Show the hours as a table
Hourly forecast for Zurich , local time (GMT+1)
TimeWeatherSnowfall
10pmRainNone
11pmRainNone
midnightRainNone
8amRainNone

Hours not listed are dry. Times are local (GMT+1).

Zurich 7-day snow forecast

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayDry6 to 10 °C (43 to 50 °F) · freezing level 2,400 m (7,900 ft)No snow
MonRain7 to 11 °C (45 to 52 °F) · gusts 48 km/h (30 mph) · freezing level 1,900 m (6,200 ft)No snow
TueRain8 to 13 °C (46 to 55 °F) · gusts 50 km/h (31 mph) · freezing level 2,650 m (8,700 ft)No snow
WedRain9 to 13 °C (48 to 55 °F) · gusts 63 km/h (39 mph) · freezing level 2,050 m (6,700 ft)No snow
ThuRain7 to 11 °C (45 to 52 °F) · gusts 58 km/h (36 mph) · freezing level 1,850 m (6,100 ft)No snow
FriRain7 to 10 °C (45 to 50 °F) · gusts 54 km/h (34 mph) · freezing level 1,750 m (5,700 ft)No snow
SatRain3 to 9 °C (37 to 48 °F) · gusts 57 km/h (35 mph) · freezing level 1,400 m (4,600 ft)No snow

Sky is graded over the ski day, 9am to 4pm. Bluebird means at least two of the three models show clear skies all day, none shows overcast, and no snow or rain is forecast. Models are weaker on cloud than on snow, and none of them can see valley fog, so treat it as a good sign rather than a promise.

Zurich 14-day snow outlook

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Sun 22 NovCloudy2 to 7 °C (36 to 45 °F)No snow
Mon 23 NovRain4 to 9 °C (39 to 48 °F)No snow
Tue 24 NovCloudy2 to 8 °C (36 to 46 °F)No snow
Wed 25 NovRain2 to 7 °C (36 to 45 °F)No snow
Thu 26 NovCloudy1 to 8 °C (34 to 46 °F)No snow
Fri 27 NovCloudy1 to 8 °C (34 to 46 °F)No snow
Sat 28 NovRain2 to 6 °C (36 to 43 °F)No snow

How much snow is there in Zurich?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes.

Where is Zurich?

Canton
Zurich
Elevation
422 m
Population
452,421

When does it snow in Zurich?

In Zurich, snow falls on about 6 days in January in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from November to March.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Zurich, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
6 days4 days2 days2 days<1 days0 days0 days0 days0 days<1 days2 days4 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Zurich month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall, temperature and sunny days by month in Zurich, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January629%−2 to 4 °C (28 to 39 °F)
February416%0 to 8 °C (32 to 46 °F)
March29%1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F)
April212%4 to 15 °C (39 to 59 °F)
May<10%9 to 18 °C (48 to 64 °F)
June00%14 to 24 °C (57 to 75 °F)
July00%15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F)
August00%15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F)
September00%12 to 20 °C (54 to 68 °F)
October<10%7 to 15 °C (45 to 59 °F)
November212%3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F)
December422%0 to 5 °C (32 to 41 °F)

Snow in Zurich in November

In November, Zurich gets snow on about 2 days, and the month brings about 12% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F).

Snow in Zurich in December

In December, Zurich gets snow on about 4 days, and the month brings about 22% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 0 to 5 °C (32 to 41 °F).

Snow in Zurich in January

In January, Zurich gets snow on about 6 days, and the month brings about 29% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 4 °C (28 to 39 °F).

Snow in Zurich in February

In February, Zurich gets snow on about 4 days, and the month brings about 16% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 0 to 8 °C (32 to 46 °F).

Snow in Zurich in March

In March, Zurich gets snow on about 2 days, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 1 to 11 °C (34 to 52 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Zurich?

Of the last ten winters in Zurich, 2020/21 was the snowiest, about 73% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2019/20, about 63% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 14 January 2021.

Snowfall in Zurich for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/1776% of average
2017/18129% of average
2018/19115% of average
2019/2037% of average
2020/21173% of average
2021/22115% of average
2022/2362% of average
2023/24109% of average
2024/2573% of average
2025/26110% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Zurich

Does Zurich have snow at Christmas?

Zurich had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in 3 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in 2 of those years.

Does Zurich have snow at New Year?

Zurich had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in 2 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in 6 of those years.

Does Zurich have snow in mid-February?

Zurich had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in 2 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in 6 of those years.

Does Zurich have snow at Easter?

Zurich had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in none of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 1 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Zurich?

It snows on about 20 days a year in Zurich, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. January has the most, about 6 days.

What is the snowiest month in Zurich?

January is the snowiest month in Zurich, bringing about 29% of the year's snowfall, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Zurich?

Of the last ten winters in Zurich, 2020/21 was the snowiest, about 73% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2019/20, about 63% below average.

How cold does Zurich get in winter?

January is the coldest month in Zurich, with average daily lows of −2 °C (28 °F) and highs of 4 °C (39 °F).

Snow forecasts near Zurich

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of ZurichEngelberg, about 60 km away, 30–60 cm this week; Laax, about 80 km away, 5–35 cm this week; Andermatt, about 80 km away, 40–60 cm this week; Grindelwald, about 90 km away, 30–60 cm this week; Bern, about 90 km away, no snow this week; Arosa Lenzerheide, about 100 km away, 10–25 cm this week; Davos Klosters, about 110 km away, 15–25 cm this week; Lech Zürs, about 120 km away, 15–40 cm this week; St. Anton am Arlberg, about 130 km away, 15–40 cm this week; St. Moritz, about 140 km away, 2–15 cm this week; Ischgl, about 140 km away, 15–40 cm this week; Crans-Montana, about 140 km away, 50–60 cm this week; Saas-Fee, about 150 km away, 15–30 cm this week.50 km100 km150 kmNEngelberg: 30–60 cm this weekLaax: 5–35 cm this weekAndermatt: 40–60 cm this weekGrindelwald: 30–60 cm this weekBern: No snow this weekArosa Lenzerheide: 10–25 cm this weekDavos Klosters: 15–25 cm this weekLech Zürs: 15–40 cm this weekSt. Anton am Arlberg: 15–40 cm this weekSt. Moritz: 2–15 cm this weekIschgl: 15–40 cm this weekCrans-Montana: 50–60 cm this weekSaas-Fee: 15–30 cm this weekEngelbergLaaxAndermattGrindelwaldBernArosa LenzerheideDavos KlostersLech ZürsSt. MoritzIschglCrans-MontanaSaas-FeeZurich
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
EngelbergSki resort, about 60 km away30–60 cm this weekLaaxSki resort, about 80 km away5–35 cm this weekAndermattSki resort, about 80 km away40–60 cm this weekGrindelwaldSki resort, about 90 km away30–60 cm this week

Nearest ski resorts to Zurich

Sources: Zurich on Wikidata, Elevation from the Open-Meteo terrain model at the city centre coordinates