Sat, Jan 20th 2024
Unprecedented Cold Hits Bernese Oberland with Record Low Temperatures
Switzerland’s recent cold wave brought astonishingly low temperatures, with Bernese Oberland experiencing one of the most severe drops. In this region, the mercury dipped to an extraordinary -36.6 degrees Celsius, highlighting the intensity of what has already been a harsh winter.
Near Buffalora on the Ofen Pass GR, temperatures were also significantly low, reaching -28 degrees. This was closely followed by Samedan GR in the Engadin, where the cold intensified to -26.3 degrees.
The cold wave wasn’t limited to the mountainous regions; it enveloped the lowlands as well. Ebnat-Kappel SG recorded -15.8 degrees, while Egolzwil LU and Tänikon TG faced temperatures of -15.3 and -15.0 degrees, respectively.
According to the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, this surge in cold temperatures can be traced back to the Arctic air descending directly from the North Pole. The clear skies and snowy landscapes further amplified the cold, resulting in exceptionally frigid conditions.
The Bernese Oberland wasn’t the only area to experience such extreme temperatures. The Hintergräppelen alp in the canton of St. Gallen also witnessed severe cold, with temperatures plunging to -31.6 degrees. MeteoSwiss expert Sarah Baumann confirmed these temperatures as being highly credible, noting the geographical peculiarities of these areas that make them prone to such extreme cold conditions.
Private weather service Meteonews reported that the coldest temperatures were observed in the middle of the night. However, a slight increase in temperatures was noted during the later part of the night due to a mild breeze. Notably, the lowlands experienced colder temperatures on the night of December 3rd compared to the preceding night.
©Keystone/SDA
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