https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The record-breaking temperatures and prolonged drought that struck Switzerland this summer are impacting the prices of certain consumer goods this autumn. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260904/what-costs-more-in-switzerland-this-autumn-after-summer-drought Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:45:34 +0200 what-costs-more-in-switzerland-this-autumn-after-summer-drought Though ‘El Niño’ means ‘little boy’ in Spanish, there is nothing little about it – at least in terms of the impact this weather phenomenon could have globally - including in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260909/how-will-el-nino-affect-switzerland-in-the-coming-months Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:00:17 +0200 how-will-el-nino-affect-switzerland-in-the-coming-months With Europe already seeing record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather episodes the summer, here's how meteorologists say the supersized El Niño phenomenon could hit the continent's climate in the coming months. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260907/climate-crisis-how-the-supersized-el-nino-could-hit-europe Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:19:23 +0200 climate-crisis-how-the-supersized-el-nino-could-hit-europe Authorities have issued access and travel bans for certain areas of Switzerland’s Säntis mountain due to an ‘unstable rock face.’ https://www.thelocal.ch/20260904/parts-of-famous-swiss-mountain-under-threat-of-a-major-collapse Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:00:09 +0200 parts-of-famous-swiss-mountain-under-threat-of-a-major-collapse It may come as no surprise to anyone who sweated buckets through June, July, and August that this year's summer has broken Switzerland's heat records. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260903/switzerland-confirms-summer-2026-was-hottest-ever-but-will-become-the-norm Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:37:04 +0200 switzerland-confirms-summer-2026-was-hottest-ever-but-will-become-the-norm With the rain and cooler temperatures in Switzerland right now, we may soon forget just how hot the summer of 2026 has been. But meteorologists say we should expect even more intense heatwaves and droughts. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260821/44-1c-just-how-hot-and-dry-will-swiss-summers-become-in-future Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:20:02 +0200 44-1c-just-how-hot-and-dry-will-swiss-summers-become-in-future As a Valais glacier is breaking off piece by piece, with debris hanging precariously over a town below, you may be wondering whether other Swiss glaciers could collapse as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260827/explained-what-are-the-risks-of-glaciers-collapsing-in-switzerland Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:51:34 +0200 explained-what-are-the-risks-of-glaciers-collapsing-in-switzerland Switzerland’s Weisshorn glacier, located at an altitude of 4,505 metres near Zermatt in Valais, is breaking off piece by piece, which could fall down into the town below. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260826/swiss-glacier-near-zermatt-under-threat-of-imminent-collapse Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:49:31 +0200 swiss-glacier-near-zermatt-under-threat-of-imminent-collapse For generations, summer in Europe has been languid and dreamy, bringing fine weather and lengthy days on sunny beaches and terraces. But in 2026, the brutal reality of climate change forced its way into daily life. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260825/were-heading-for-catastrophe-the-summer-climate-change-hit-europe Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:51:09 +0200 were-heading-for-catastrophe-the-summer-climate-change-hit-europe All the Swiss regions have suffered from a severe dry spell since June, and the consequences are significant and far-reaching, the government reports. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260824/from-food-to-power-how-the-summers-devastating-drought-hit-switzerland Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:52:50 +0200 from-food-to-power-how-the-summers-devastating-drought-hit-switzerland Europe saw at least 30,000 excess deaths across a blistering summer of back-to-back heatwaves and drought which scientists have blamed on man-made climate change, according to provisional figures. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260822/heatwave-hit-europe-logs-over-30000-excess-summer-deaths Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:53:02 +0200 heatwave-hit-europe-logs-over-30000-excess-summer-deaths Lake Zurich's water level sank to its lowest level in 75 years on August 19th, official measurements showed, as a drawn-out drought also took a toll on a range of other major Swiss lakes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260820/lake-zurich-sees-water-level-hit-record-low-amid-drought Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:57:31 +0200 lake-zurich-sees-water-level-hit-record-low-amid-drought To date, we have had a long hot and dry summer, resulting in a long stretch of intense drought. Is rain finally forecast to come to your Swiss region? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260818/drought-when-can-you-next-expect-rain-in-your-part-of-switzerland Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:10:24 +0200 drought-when-can-you-next-expect-rain-in-your-part-of-switzerland Switzerland is rich in water but due to continued drought and misuse of available resources, it could become more expensive. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260818/what-impact-will-the-drought-have-on-price-of-water-in-switzerland Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:29:27 +0200 what-impact-will-the-drought-have-on-price-of-water-in-switzerland Due to the persistent hot weather, the water in many of Switzerland’s lakes is not refreshing – in fact, it is on the upper range of what is considered ‘normal’ for a summer season. But is it safe to swim in? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260818/is-it-safe-to-swim-in-switzerlands-very-warm-lakes-this-summer Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:49:58 +0200 is-it-safe-to-swim-in-switzerlands-very-warm-lakes-this-summer Countries across Europe on Sunday continued to battle wildfires amid blistering temperatures and tinder-dry landscapes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260816/latest-europes-battle-with-wildfires-continues Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:56:48 +0200 latest-europes-battle-with-wildfires-continues Countries across Europe on Saturday battled wildfires amid blistering temperatures and tinder-dry landscapes, with thousands of people evacuated. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260814/europe-battles-new-wave-of-wildfires Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:49:54 +0200 europe-battles-new-wave-of-wildfires In landlocked Switzerland, the Rhine plays a strategic role in foreign trade and is a major driver of the country’s prosperity. But drought conditions this summer threaten shipping on the river. What then? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260811/drought-why-is-the-rhine-river-so-important-for-the-swiss-economy Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:55:57 +0200 drought-why-is-the-rhine-river-so-important-for-the-swiss-economy Increasingly warmer weather is affecting many aspects of life, including one of Switzerland’s iconic products - mountain cheese. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260812/how-is-climate-change-impacting-swiss-alpine-cheese Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:44:12 +0200 how-is-climate-change-impacting-swiss-alpine-cheese Millions of people across Europe -- particularly in France, Italy, Spain and Britain -- baked through a new wave of extreme temperatures Thursday as the continent's latest heatwave picked up. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260812/europes-latest-heatwave-more-than-90-million-set-for-plus-35c-temperatures Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:42:33 +0200 europes-latest-heatwave-more-than-90-million-set-for-plus-35c-temperatures