Tribune de Genève.
After very mild winter temperatures, snow returns to Switzerland from Thursday.
© Keith Wheatley | Dreamstime.com
According to Meteo Swiss, a westerly air current is currently blowing warm spring air over Switzerland. On Sunday temperatures between 12 and 17 degrees were recorded north of the Alps. Temperatures were especially high for the season in Central Switzerland. Giswil in the canton of Obwalden saw 17 degrees while Lucerne registered 16 degrees.
South of the Alps the warm Föhn wind took temperatures to as high as 20 degrees. The Föhn blows warm moist winds off the Mediterranean sea into the Alps. These warm winds took the zero degree limit up as high as 3,500 metres.
The good news for skiers is that the snow returns on Wednesday evening. Snow is predicted to fall as low as 800 to 1,500 metres across most of Switzerland according to meteorologists.
Ticino however will remain dry. Meteo Swiss describes the recent months of November, December and January as exceptionally dry for the canton. It is rare for Ticino to experience a drought in winter, and unlike this season, if a drought does occur the dryness is typically preceded by rain in autumn. As a result of the recent dry spell the water level in Lake Maggiore is now one metre lower than normal. This is concerning farmers who begin the planting season in the next few weeks.
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