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Latest Drought news and updates from Switzerland. AI-curated articles covering Drought topics.
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The Federal Council has approved CHF70 million in emergency support for farms and forests affected by Switzerland’s exceptional drought. This article should explain where the money will go and why the government considers the 2026 dry spell unprecedented.
10 days ago · 1 source
Environment
The severe drought across Switzerland has pushed Lake Zurich to its lowest water level since records began. The crisis is also forcing farmers in multiple cantons to bring their cattle down from Alpine pastures prematurely due to a lack of water and fodder.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +1 more
Climate Change
An in-depth look at the widespread consequences of the 2026 heatwave across Switzerland, from an unprecedentedly early grape harvest and struggling cheese producers to dangerously warm lakes and calls for climate-adapted schools.
The Local Switzerland · +4 more
Climate Change
An in-depth look at the compounding effects of the 2026 heatwave and drought across Switzerland, from unprecedented early grape harvests and struggling cheese producers to government aid debates and calls for a national urban heat strategy.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +4 more
Heatwave
An intense heatwave is causing significant consequences across Switzerland, prompting Geneva and Vaud to reactivate emergency plans, forcing the closure of high-altitude mountain huts, and causing critically low water levels on the Rhine that disrupt shipping and ferry services.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +4 more
Environment
A severe heatwave and persistent drought are reshaping the Swiss summer, forcing the cancellation of music festivals, threatening Alpine farms, bringing an end to summer skiing on the Zermatt glacier, and paradoxically boosting tourism to cooler mountain railways. This article explores the widespread consequences of the extreme weather across the country.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +3 more
Drought
From suspending summer skiing on Zermatt's melting glacier to farmers launching emergency online fodder exchanges, the persistent high temperatures and lack of rain in summer 2026 are causing widespread disruption across Switzerland.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +3 more
Agriculture
As drought withers pastures, farmers in Zurich and Schaffhausen are launching an online marketplace for animal feed. The initiative aims to connect arable farms with livestock farms in need of fodder, preventing the premature slaughter of cattle and addressing the feed shortages caused by the extreme weather.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Environment
While at least 151 Swiss municipalities are rationing water due to drought, the federal government plans to cut funding for forest conservation programs from 2027. These programs are vital for helping forests adapt to climate change and mitigate drought effects, creating a controversial policy clash.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +1 more
Swiss National Day
This year's Swiss National Day on August 1st was unusually quiet, with widespread firework bans leading to fewer incidents. While nearly 80,000 people enjoyed traditional farm brunches, accusations of double standards arose over exemptions granted for official firework displays.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +2 more
Environment
As Switzerland records its highest temperature of 2026 amid a fourth summer heatwave, severe drought conditions have forced cantons like Basel City to cancel traditional August 1st fireworks, raising concerns about public safety and the nation's energy demands for cooling.
SWI swissinfo.ch · +2 more
Environment
Switzerland is on high alert as sparse rainfall and another intense heatwave lead to drought conditions and unusually low water reserves. The weather is impacting agriculture, with an earlier grape harvest expected, and creating new energy challenges as the demand for air conditioning soars.
The Local Switzerland · +10 more
Environment
With a nationwide drought alert in effect, record-low water levels in major lakes like Constance, and depleted reservoirs, Switzerland is bracing for another intense heatwave that threatens to exacerbate the crisis, impacting agriculture and daily life.
The Local Switzerland · +3 more
Drought
With reservoir levels at a two-decade low and no relief in sight, Swiss authorities and farmers are grappling with severe water shortages. As another major heatwave approaches, the country is restricting water use and deploying firefighters to assist with blazes in France.
The Local Switzerland · +5 more
Environment
The ongoing heatwave and drought are creating widespread problems across the country, from dangerously low reservoir levels and increased Alpine risks to political pressure on the Environment Minister.
The Local Switzerland · +3 more
Climate Change
Switzerland's iconic alpine landscape is being visibly transformed by extreme heat. The Rhône Glacier is losing ice at an alarming rate, while increased rockfall risk on peaks like the Matterhorn is forcing guides to deem classic routes 'extremely dangerous'. This piece documents the immediate environmental and safety impacts.
The Local Switzerland · +2 more
Environment
Switzerland is facing a severe environmental situation as rapid glacier melt, exemplified by the Rhône Glacier losing 1.4 meters of ice in two weeks, combines with a prolonged drought. Rivers and reservoirs are at 20-year lows, and experts warn of increasingly dangerous conditions for mountain activities like climbing due to heightened risks of rockfalls.
The Local Switzerland · +5 more
Weather
The ongoing heatwave and drought are creating wide-ranging challenges across Switzerland, fuelling concerns about rising food prices, wildfire risks, and the safety of taking certain medications in high temperatures.
The Local Switzerland · +3 more
Environment
The national weather service MeteoSwiss has issued a warning as Switzerland experiences what is shaping up to be the driest April since records began. With rainfall at only a third of the normal average, some regions have received less than 15% of their usual precipitation, raising concerns for agriculture and fire risk.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Climate Change
A new federal government study reveals that the climate crisis is hitting Switzerland particularly hard and warns that the situation is set to deteriorate further. The report highlights an increasing frequency of extreme heatwaves and droughts across the country, underscoring national vulnerability.
The Local Switzerland
