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Violent thunderstorms predicted for Zurich and Aargau

After the hottest day of the year in Switzerland, violent thunderstorms have been predicted for Zurich and Aargau, while inclement weather is expected for much of the rest of the country.

Published: 28 July 2020 15:58 CEST
Violent thunderstorms predicted for Zurich and Aargau
Lightning illuminates the night sky over the village of Cully surrounded by the vineyard terraces of Lavaux on the banks of Leman Lake from Chexbres. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Level 3 thunderstorm warnings have been issued for the cantons of Zurich and Aargau, just one day after Switzerland’s hottest day of the year so far. 

 

 

Monday was the hottest day on record in 2020, with temperatures in the mid-30s across Switzerland. 

The predictions come at a welcome time, with fire warnings and bans issued throughout several regions. 

In Aargau, a fire ban came in for forested areas from 4pm on Tuesday, while fireworks will only be allowed more than 200 metres from the forested area. 

 

 

The warning comes just days before Switzerland’s National Day on August 1st, which is traditionally celebrated with fireworks. 

Smaller crowds, more fireworks: How Swiss National Day will be celebrated in corona times 

 

Heatwave hotline set up

In Zurich, authorities on Monday set up a ‘heatwave hotline’ to help to advise residents on how to behave in ever-warmer temperatures.

Quite literally a hotline, callers can get information on how to behave during the heatwave and the steps they can take to reduce its impact.

The number has been set up by the Red Cross in Zurich, but can be called by residents across Switzerland.

Hitze kann eine grosse gesundheitliche Belastung sein. Das städtische Hitze-Telefon bietet – von Juli bis September – Information und Beratung sowie kostenlose Hausbesuche während einer Hitzewelle an. ?044 412 00 60https://t.co/gEQ2yodiN7 pic.twitter.com/dW6wMoSbDI

— Rotes Kreuz Zürich (@RotesKreuz_ZH) July 28, 2020

The number is 044 412 00 60. 

Monday was the hottest day of the year so far in Switzerland, with temperatures expected to continue to climb in the coming days, particularly in Ticino and Geneva. 

Temperatures rose into the mid-30s in Basel and Geneva, while the mark of 30 degrees was breached across the country. 

Heute war vielerorts der #heisseste Tag des bisherigen Sommers 2020. In Genf gab es knapp 34 Grad, in Basel knapp 33 Grad. Im Flachland wurde vielerorts die #Hitzemarke von 30 Grad erreicht. Freitag/Samstag wird es wohl noch heisser. (rp) pic.twitter.com/6qSeEj7wYd

— MeteoNews (@MeteoNewsAG) July 27, 2020

During the night on Monday the weather remained warm, with the mercury staying above 20 in several Swiss regions. 

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WEATHER

IN PICTURES: ‘Exceptional’ Sahara dust cloud hits Europe

An "exceptional" dust cloud from the Sahara is choking parts of Europe, the continent's climate monitor said on Monday, causing poor air quality and coating windows and cars in grime.

Published: 8 April 2024 14:15 CEST
IN PICTURES: 'Exceptional' Sahara dust cloud hits Europe

Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service said the latest plume, the third of its kind in recent weeks, was bringing hazy conditions to southern Europe and would sweep northward as far as Scandinavia.

Mark Parrington, senior scientist at Copernicus, said the latest event was related to a weather pattern that has brought warmer weather to parts of Europe in recent days.

“While it is not unusual for Saharan dust plumes to reach Europe, there has been an increase in the intensity and frequency of such episodes in recent years, which could be potentially attributed to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns,” he said.

This latest episode has caused air quality to deteriorate in several countries, Copernicus said.

The European Union’s safe threshold for concentrations of PM10 — coarser particles like sand and dust that that can irritate the nose and throat — has already been exceeded in some locations.

A picture taken on April 8, 2024 shows a rapeseed field under thick sand dust blown in from the Sahara, giving the sky a yellowish appearance near Daillens, western Switzerland. – An “exceptional” dust cloud from the Sahara is choking parts of Europe, the continent’s climate monitor said, causing poor air quality and coating windows and cars in grime. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

The worst affected was the Iberian Peninsula in Spain but lesser air pollution spikes were also recorded in parts of Switzerland, France and Germany.

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Local authorities in southeastern and southern France announced that the air pollution threshold was breached on Saturday.

They advised residents to avoid intense physical activity, particularly those with heart or respiratory problems.

The dust outbreak was expected to reach Sweden, Finland and northwest Russia before ending on Tuesday with a shift in weather patterns, Copernicus said.

The Sahara emits between 60 and 200 million tonnes of fine dust every year, which can travel thousands of kilometres (miles), carried by winds and certain meteorological conditions.

The Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of northwest Africa saw just 12 days within a 90-day period from December to February where skies were free of Saharan dust, the local weather agency Aemet had reported.

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