Hot Summer: Many Tropical Nights in Swiss Cities
The private weather service Meteonews has drawn up a balance sheet for the first half of August. The data shows that temperatures in many regions of Switzerland were particularly high. Especially striking is the high number of so-called tropical nights.
A tropical night is defined as a night in which the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. These nights are strenuous for the human body, as recovery is more difficult at high temperatures. Over the past two weeks, such nights have been recorded at numerous measuring stations across the country.
Densely populated cities are particularly affected. In urban areas, buildings and asphalt store the heat of the day and release it only slowly at night. This leads to temperatures in cities often remaining significantly higher than in the surrounding countryside.
Weather experts emphasize that these observations are a clear sign of climatic changes in Switzerland. The frequency of such heat events has increased in recent years. The population is therefore urged to ensure sufficient fluid intake during high temperatures and to stay in cool rooms.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring further developments. Even if temperatures could drop slightly in the coming days, the heat remains an important issue for Swiss cities. The data from Meteonews now serve as a basis for further analyses of this year's summer.