Drought intensifies in Switzerland as heatwave looms

Switzerland is grappling with intensifying drought conditions, as recent thunderstorms offered only temporary respite. Across the country and in parts of Germany, water scarcity is becoming increasingly severe, affecting soil moisture, rivers, and groundwater reserves. Several Swiss municipalities have already urged residents to conserve water, while Munich has begun shutting off its fountains.

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The thunderstorms last week only provided short-term relief.

The situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks. Many areas already suffer from extremely dry soil, raising concerns about a high risk of forest fires throughout the summer. The lack of precipitation over the past 90 days has been particularly acute on the north side of the Alps and in the Valais region, where rainfall has been only about half the climatic average, according to the Federal Office for the Environment (Bafu).

A new heatwave, with temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, began over the weekend and is forecast to last into the next week. While not as intense as the previous one, it is predicted to further strain already parched landscapes as significant rainfall remains scarce. The timing and occurrence of future showers or thunderstorms are uncertain.

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In Switzerland and parts of Germany, there is an increasing lack of water.

Long-term forecasts from the Bafu also point to persistent drought conditions in Switzerland. Although the high-pressure system driving the current heatwave may weaken by the end of July, allowing for some rain, the soil in large parts of the country is already significantly dry. Exceptions include parts of the Alps and eastern Switzerland, which have seen slightly more frequent rain recently. The federal government has been issuing drought warnings since May 2025, using an index that considers rainfall over the past two years, soil moisture, and water levels in rivers and lakes. Most areas are currently classified as dry, very dry, or extremely dry.

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In the past 90 days, only about half as much precipitation has fallen on the north side of the Alps and in the Valais as the climatic average.