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Valais is characterized by a pleasant, very dry and particularly mild climate until late autumn. The climate favors Zermatt, located at over 1,600 meters above sea level, thanks to its position facing south, protected from the wind and guaranteed snow during the winter.
Due to the high mountains, which shield rainfall, the climate of Zermatt is mild and with low rainfall. The average minimum temperatures are normally below zero in the months between November and April with average minimum temperatures of -8 ° C in January. The average maximum summer temperatures vary between 19 ° C and 15 ° C. The ice days – that is, those with the maximum average temperature below 0 ° C – are 44 per year. While the frost days – that is, those with average minimum temperature below 0 ° C – are 178 per year.
The average annual total of rainfall is around 611 mm per year, the months with the least rainfall are the winter months between January and March. Zermatt has an annual average of only 92 rainy days. The snow falls copiously during the winter months, but in the surrounding mountains it can snow even in the middle of August. Zermatt has an average of 1,684 hours of sunshine per year.
The surrounding mountain areas, especially along the border with Italy, are, compared to the altitude, much colder and rainier. For example, at the top of Monte Rosa, the annual average rainfall is 4,100 mm.
WHEN TO GO TO ZERMATT
Easily reachable through a practical train service, Zermatt is a destination for every period of the year, snow lovers can visit it in the winter months, but also in spring and autumn, summer is the best time for walking lovers. The Matterhorn mountain can be admired at any time of the year.
THE CLIMATE OF ZERMATT: CLIMATE TABLES
| ZERMATT (1608 meters) | ||||
| Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Rainy days (snowy days) |
| January | -8,4 | 0,2 | 43 | 6,6 (8,0) |
| February | -7,8 | 1,3 | 46 | 6,3 (7,0) |
| March | -5,5 | 3,7 | 49 | 7,7 (5,4) |
| April | -2,2 | 7,3 | 50 | 6,7 (4,1) |
| May | 2,1 | 12,1 | 61 | 10,0 (1,3) |
| June | 4,8 | 15,6 | 56 | 8,6 (0,1) |
| July | 6,8 | 18,9 | 47 | 8,9 |
| August | 6,7 | 17,9 | 60 | 9,9 |
| September | 4,2 | 15,4 | 41 | 6,9 (0,1) |
| October | 0,7 | 11,2 | 55 | 6,7 (1,5) |
| November | -4,0 | 4,6 | 55 | 7,0 (5,4) |
| December | -7,1 | 1,1 | 48 | 6,7 (7,2) |
| YEAR | -0,8 | 9,1 | 611 | 92,0 (45,3) |
