Zurich in August
What to expect
August in Zurich is late summer, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The month is warm and inviting for long walks, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing. There is plenty of daylight to stretch outdoor time.
August in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Zurich.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 14.2 h
- UV index (max)
- 7
- Typical sun hours
- 05:23 - 19:35
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 17 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 56%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 76%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for August. Typical high 24.0°C and low 15.9°C.
Typical disruptions in August
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in August.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 29% of days (9.0 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.0 days / month
~29% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.0 days / month
- Probability ~29% of days
- Intensity Up to ~32mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~9 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 27% of days (8.5 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.5 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.5 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~32mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~9 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 18% of days (5.6 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.6 days / month
~18% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.6 days / month
- Probability ~18% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 9% of days (2.7 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.7 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.7 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~35°C (P95)
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~3 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 7% of days (2.1 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.1 days / month
~7% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.1 days / month
- Probability ~7% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34°C (P95)
Hot days are possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Show all disruptions (19 more)
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 2.3 days/month in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.3 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.3 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~33mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~48mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~63km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~72km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 64% of days (19.8 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.8 days / month
~64% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.8 days / month
- Probability ~64% of days
- Intensity Up to ~25mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~20 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 52% of days (16.0 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.0 days / month
~52% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.0 days / month
- Probability ~52% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~16 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 50% of days (15.5 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
15.5 days / month
~50% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 15.5 days / month
- Probability ~50% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~16 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 40% of days (12.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.4 days / month
~40% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.4 days / month
- Probability ~40% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~12 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 31% of days (9.7 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.7 days / month
~31% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.7 days / month
- Probability ~31% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~10 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 24% of days (7.5 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.5 days / month
~24% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.5 days / month
- Probability ~24% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.5 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.5 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~61km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 7% of days (2.2 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.2 days / month
~7% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.2 days / month
- Probability ~7% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 6% of days (1.7 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.7 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.7 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~2 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Feels-like heatwave Measures: Feels-like heatwave runs (>=3 days). Observed about 0.5 days/month in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~35°C (P95)
Feels-like heatwave runs are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Very hot feels-like Measures: Very hot feels-like days (>=35C). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36°C (P95)
Very hot feels-like conditions are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 0.3 days/month in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~33°C (P95)
Heatwave runs are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat stress risk Measures: High heat stress days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36°C (P95)
Heat stress is possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in August. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20°C (P95)
Convective risk signal appears on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is August a good time to visit Zurich?
Typical August days in Zurich reach highs of 23°C (73°F) with nights around 15°C (59°F). It usually feels warm by day and cool after dark. It is among the wetter months, so it is wise to have some indoor backup plans or flexible activities.
What are temperatures like in August?
Daytime temperatures in August typically peak near 23°C (73°F), while nights drop to around 15°C (59°F). Expect warm afternoons and cool evenings.
How much does it rain in August?
Rainfall in August averages 116 mm (4.6 in) across roughly 17 days. Overall it is a very wet time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in August?
You can expect about 14 hours of daylight in August. Sunrise is typically around 05:23 and sunset near 19:35. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in August?
UV levels are often high (around 7). Regular sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Is it windy in August?
In August, average wind speeds are around 6 km/h (4 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 43 km/h (27 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.