Basel suffers wettest six months for 150 years
It may be sunny now, but parts of Switzerland have been wetter than ever in the first half of this year.
In Basel 732 millimetres of rain fell from January 1st to the end of June this year, nearly double the norm, said SRF Meteo on Friday.
That’s more than any other equivalent period since 1864 and more than the amount of rainfall in the whole of last year.
It also smashes the previous record, from 2001, when 639 millimetres of rain fell from January to June – nearly a hundred millimetres under this year’s six-month total.
While Basel was the soggiest, nearly all of Switzerland suffered higher than average rainfall in the first half of this year, with Zurich, Lucerne and St Gallen all experiencing at least 50 percent more rain than usual.
French-speaking Switzerland fared slightly better, with only 30 percent more rainfall than average.
The wet conditions caused havoc across the country in May and June, sparking electricity outages, road closures and flooding in villages, along with late snowfall and swollen rivers and lakes.
However hot, dry weather finally arrived towards the end of June.
The forecast over the next week is mixed, with sunny spells and showers and temperatures in the mid 20s, said Meteo Suisse.
Source: Meteo Suisse
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In Basel 732 millimetres of rain fell from January 1st to the end of June this year, nearly double the norm, said SRF Meteo on Friday.
That’s more than any other equivalent period since 1864 and more than the amount of rainfall in the whole of last year.
It also smashes the previous record, from 2001, when 639 millimetres of rain fell from January to June – nearly a hundred millimetres under this year’s six-month total.
While Basel was the soggiest, nearly all of Switzerland suffered higher than average rainfall in the first half of this year, with Zurich, Lucerne and St Gallen all experiencing at least 50 percent more rain than usual.
French-speaking Switzerland fared slightly better, with only 30 percent more rainfall than average.
The wet conditions caused havoc across the country in May and June, sparking electricity outages, road closures and flooding in villages, along with late snowfall and swollen rivers and lakes.
However hot, dry weather finally arrived towards the end of June.
The forecast over the next week is mixed, with sunny spells and showers and temperatures in the mid 20s, said Meteo Suisse.
Source: Meteo Suisse
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