Bester Schweizer Wetterdienst
meteocentrale.ch
-weishaupt- Burners and Heating Systems

Instructions for the use of the Meteocentrale pages

How are the warnings presented?

The homepage "Switzerland" and the map of the cantons show combined severe weather warnings. If there are several warning variables active for one canton (e.g. rain and storm) this one is shown, which has a higher alert level.

Please click on the storm warning buttons (rain, snow, thunderstorms, freezing rain, storm) in the navigation bar in the upper left corner, for displaying separate weather warnings.
If you click on the colours (orange, red and violet) beside "alert levels", you get more information about the thresholds of these alert levels.

Please notice: meteocentrale does not warn of freezing moisture, hoarfrost or slippery streets caused by light snowfall.
We will warn of sleekness caused by freezing rain and snowfall with an intensity of more than 5 cm within 6 hours.


At what time the warnings are displayed?

Active warnings (orange, red and violet) will be displayed, if the arrival of the storm is quite sure. Time will spread between 1 and 12 hours depending on the weather situation.
Watches (yellow) will be displayed 36 hours before an incident or if the arrival of the severe weather is not quite sure or if we expect it to change in force, direction or duration.


Warnings for the mountains

Due to great height difference in Switzerland we use different sea levels for our warnings on the mountains. The following map shows a coarse calssification.
In general we differ between 2 levels: Warnings for Prealps, Jura and mountains in southern Tessin (1) start at most above 1000 meters. Warnings for the Alps (2) are issued mainly above 1500 meters.
Depending on warning situation variations are possible. For the warning thresholds please mind the tables below or the hints on the severe warnings map.

Warning thresholds
  • No warning active

    Heavy rain

  •  Snow

  •  Thunderstorms

  •  Wind

  •  Freezing rain


  • Prewarning active,
  • severe weather is likely but uncertain

    Heavy rain

     Snow

  •  Thunderstorms

  •  Wind

  •  Freezing rain


  • Warning active

    Heavy rain more than 30 mm in 24 hours / 60 mm in 48 hours

  •  Snow more than 5 cm in 6 hours / 10 cm in 12 hours / 15 cm 24 hours

     Snow on the mountains more than 10 cm in 6 hours / 15 cm in 12 hours / 25 cm in 24 hours / 40 cm in 36 hours

     Thunderstorm with heavy rain

     Wind with gusts between 75 and 100 km/h

     Wind on the mountains with gusts between 100 and 120 km/h

  • Light freezing rain


  • Warning active

    Heavy rain more than 50 mm in 24 hours / 100 mm in 48 hours

  •  Snow more than 10 cm in 6 hours / 15 cm in 12 hours / 25 cm in 24 hours

     Snow on the mountains more than 20 cm in 6 hours / 30 cm in 12 hours / 50 cm in 24 hours / 70 cm in 36 hours

  •  Thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail

  •  Wind with gusts between 100 and 130 km/h

  •  Wind on the mountains with gusts between 120 and 150 km/h

  •  Moderate freezing rain


  • Warning active

    Heavy rain more than 100 mm in 24 hours / 150 mm in 48 hours

  •  Snow more than 20 cm in 6 hours / 25 cm in 12 hours / 35 cm in 24 hours

     Snow on the mountains more than 30 cm in 6 hours / 50 cm in 12 hours / 70 cm in 24 hours / 100 cm in 36 hours
        
  •  Thunderstorms with heavy rain and large hail

  •  Wind with gusts stronger than 130 km/h

     Wind on the mountains with gusts stronger than 150 km/h 

  • Heavy freezing rain