Climate Change Chart of Bern, Switzerland

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Averaged across calendar months, monthly mean temperature shows a difference of +1.36 °C compared with the earlier reference period; this is an unweighted mean of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or a measure of daytime highs. January had the largest monthly increase in mean temperature, with a difference of +4.19 °C. By contrast, May recorded the largest monthly decrease, a difference of -0.51 °C.

Changes in rainfall

Mean daily rainfall averaged across calendar months shows a difference of +0.98 mm/day in the more recent period. This describes the unweighted mean of the monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or monthly rainfall totals. The largest monthly increase in mean daily rainfall was in July, with a difference of +1.90 mm/day; this identifies a change in the daily mean for that month, not a monthly accumulation.

Changes in snowfall

Mean daily snowfall averaged across calendar months shows a difference of -0.28 mm/day in the more recent period. This unweighted mean summarizes monthly means and should not be read as a day-weighted annual average or as evidence that snowfall was absent. Monthly snowfall differences varied: April had the largest increase in mean daily snowfall, a difference of +1.73 mm/day, while January had the largest decrease, a difference of -1.85 mm/day. These are changes in daily means, not monthly snowfall totals.

Changes in sunshine duration

Mean daily sunshine duration, averaged across calendar months, had a difference of -0.44 hours/day compared with the earlier reference period. This is an unweighted average of the monthly means rather than a day-weighted annual figure. The largest monthly decrease in mean daily sunshine duration occurred in December, with a difference of -0.75 hours/day.