Climate zones in Switzerland, 1991 to 2020
Share of Switzerland's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 70,287 map cells used cover 100% of the country's outline (about 41,313 km²).
By major group: D (cold (continental)) 43%, C (temperate) 39%, E (polar) 18%.
Switzerland has no single dominant climate. The biggest zone, Cfb (temperate oceanic), covers only 38% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020, followed by Dfb (23%) and Dfc (19%). 4 zones each cover 1% or more of it. In plain terms, temperate oceanic means mild and damp, with no extremes. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 64% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Cfa (humid subtropical). The most common zone would then be Cfa (humid subtropical).
How Switzerland's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 39% | 32% | Cfb +23.4 percentage points | Dfb -18 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 27% | 16% | Cfa +5.1 percentage points | ET -7.5 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 64% | 25% | Cfa +25.7 percentage points | Cfb -12.1 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 96% | 39% | Cfa +49.1 percentage points | Cfb -26.7 percentage points |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cfb Temperate oceanic | 15% | 38% | 41% | 26% | 12% |
| Dfb Warm-summer humid continental | 41% | 23% | 22% | 23% | 24% |
| Dfc Subarctic (boreal) | 18% | 19% | 20% | 18% | 13% |
| ET Tundra | 26% | 18% | 11% | 6.2% | 1.3% |
| Cfa Humid subtropical | - | 0.9% | 6% | 27% | 50% |
| EF Ice cap (frost) | 0.2% | - | - | - | - |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Zones found in Switzerland
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Dfb. See data sources and licences.