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I am personally a bit of a weather geek, so this article goes into real detail. If you just want the short version, skip to the TL;DR at the bottom.
The location of Interlaken is everything when it comes to understanding the weather here — and in mountain areas, location matters more than anywhere else.
The Alps are divided into two main regions: the northern Alps and the southern Alps. The ridge line that runs through the Swiss Alps acts as the dividing line. Each side behaves differently. In the north, precipitation tends to be less intense but lasts longer — sometimes days, sometimes weeks of grey skies. In the south, you get the opposite: short, intense storms that can be severe but pass quickly.
So what does this mean for Interlaken?
Interlaken sits at around 580 metres (1,900 ft) above sea level, very close to the alpine ridge. The mountains here — Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger — function like a wall. Moist air coming from the north hits these peaks and gets pushed upward, which means we get more precipitation than you might expect for a town this size. Interlaken receives roughly 1,200 mm (47 inches) of rain per year, which is noticeably more than the Swiss lowland average.
But here is the part that makes it interesting: Interlaken is not sitting deep inside a narrow alpine valley. The two lakes on either side and the relatively open terrain mean that temperatures do not swing as dramatically as they do further into the mountains. The result is a place where the weather is more unpredictable than most other spots in Switzerland. It is an alpine area — so naturally more turbulent — but the terrain makes it even more so.
There is also the Föhn — a warm, dry wind that comes from the south, crosses the Alps, and drops into the valleys on the north side. On Föhn days the mountains look impossibly sharp and clear, temperatures jump unexpectedly, and half the town gets a headache. It does not happen often, but when it does, you will notice.
One thing worth knowing: temperature drops roughly 6 to 7°C for every 1,000 metres (about 3.5 to 4°F per 1,000 ft) you gain in altitude. So when it is a comfortable 22°C (72°F) in Interlaken, it is around 12°C (54°F) at Schynige Platte and close to 5°C (41°F) at Jungfraujoch. If you are heading up the mountain, bring layers — even in July.
I have seen snow in Mürren on the 1st of August. I have also seen people paddleboarding on the lakes on the 20th of December. I could fill pages with weather extremes, but in the sections below I will focus on what is average and what you can realistically expect.
One more thing people often ask: is there a rainy season? Not really. Any month can go either way. I have lived through summers with low temperatures and endless rain, and I have seen years where Lake Brienz hit its warmest temperature on record. The weather here does not follow a script.
Summer in Interlaken is warm. Not Mediterranean warm, but warm enough that you will be glad there are two glacier-fed lakes nearby for a quick dip.
Average temperatures:
In recent years, summer has been getting hotter. We are seeing more days above 30°C (86°F) than we did even ten years ago. According to MeteoSwiss, Switzerland has warmed about 2.9°C above pre-industrial levels — nearly twice the global average. To put it into perspective, twenty years ago nobody in Interlaken needed air conditioning. Now it would be nice to have.
June is usually when summer properly kicks in. Last year it was actually the warmest month of the entire summer — and it is also when the lakes start to be warm enough for a swim, though this can be tricky depending on the year. Check out our article about lakes and swimming in Interlaken → for the details.
July is typically the hottest month overall, with the longest days and the most sunshine. By mid-August you can already feel the nights getting cooler and the season starting to turn.
The thing to watch out for in summer is thunderstorms. They are the most common weather risk in the alpine region and very hard to predict. You might check the forecast in the morning, see rain for the afternoon, and panic — but even the best models cannot calculate exactly where a thunderstorm will develop. The only reliable approach is to wait and see.
That said, you do not want to get caught in one. They can be severe, and hail has become more frequent in recent years — research from the University of Bern suggests that with continued warming, severe hailstorms in the Alpine region could increase by nearly 20 percent. The practical advice: start your day early and try to finish outdoor activities by around 3 pm. This is especially important if you are hiking at altitude, where storms are most dangerous. If you are planning a hike, check our hiking guide →.
July is actually the wettest month in Interlaken — around 222 mm (8.7 inches) of precipitation on average — which surprises people. But that rainfall comes mostly in the form of short, intense thunderstorms rather than all-day drizzle. The mornings are usually fine.
One more summer tip: UV at altitude is deceptively strong. Even on a cool day at Jungfraujoch or First, visitors get badly sunburned. The air is thinner and there is less atmosphere filtering the rays. Bring sunscreen, even if it feels chilly.
This is one of my two favourite times of the year in Interlaken — and I think the most underrated.
Average temperatures:
From late August into September, the temperature starts to ease off. Thunderstorm season is usually behind you. If you do not like the heat — and I don’t — this is one of the two months I would suggest visiting. During the day you still get warm sun, but you do not have to deal with sticky, sweaty nights. The weather is more stable and the colours in the valleys start to shift.
September and the first half of October are genuinely special. The crowds thin out, the light changes, and the landscape has a warmth to it that is hard to describe. Farmers start bringing their cows down from the high pastures — the Alpabzug — and you can feel the rhythm of the region shifting.
After mid-October the temperature drops more noticeably and there is an increasing chance of snow, even down to Interlaken’s level. This snow will not stay at 580 metres (1,900 ft), but it is a signal that summer is well and truly over. Most summer activities close around this time, and you enter an in-between period where skiing has not started yet and the hiking trails are emptying out.
By November the first ski resorts typically open — usually late October to early November depending on the year and the resort. So if you want to experience the best of both worlds, November can be a surprisingly good time to visit. If you are lucky you still get crisp, sunny days where activities like paragliding are possible, but you can also take a gondola up and find fresh snow.
Winter in Interlaken is milder than most people expect.
Average temperatures:
At 580 metres (1,900 ft), Interlaken itself does not get much snow. When it does snow all the way down to town, it is usually 5 to 10 centimetres (2 to 4 inches), and because temperatures fluctuate quickly, it tends to melt within a few days. Some winter days in Interlaken honestly feel more like early spring — the sun comes out, temperatures sit around 5 to 8°C (41 to 46°F), and you can walk around in a light jacket.
If you want a proper winter experience with reliable snow, go higher. Grindelwald is a good start, but Wengen and Mürren are a safer bet — they sit at 1,274 and 1,650 metres (4,180 and 5,413 ft) respectively, where conditions are more consistently wintery. The rule is simple: the higher you go, the colder and snowier it gets.
Winters in Europe — and in the Alps specifically — have been changing. MeteoSwiss data shows that below 800 metres (2,600 ft), snowfall frequency has roughly halved compared to the 1970s. Precipitation that used to come as snow now increasingly falls as rain. Skiing is still good, but if you want to experience a truly great winter, you need some luck and the right timing. For more detail on this, check our skiing guide →.
The winter precipitation pattern here is different from summer. When a snowstorm approaches, it usually means several days of cloudy weather with intermittent snowfall — a bit each day rather than one big dump. How intense it gets depends on the specific system.
One practical tip: in winter you often get what locals call the Nebelmeer — a sea of fog. Interlaken sits under a blanket of grey cloud while the mountains above are bathed in sunshine. Before you write off a grey day, check if the mountain webcams show sun above the clouds. A ride up to Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte, or even just Grindelwald-First can mean going from grey 0°C (32°F) to blue sky and 10°C (50°F). It is one of the most stunning things you can see here, and most visitors have no idea it happens.
Lately it feels like we are losing spring — or maybe spring just starts earlier than it used to.
Average temperatures:
Warmer temperatures can arrive as early as February, and by March it is not unusual to hit 20°C (68°F) in Interlaken on a warm day — though the average is closer to 8°C (46°F), so do not count on it. If you are a fan of spring skiing, March is a really good time to come. The European school holidays are over so the resorts are quieter, the snow up high is still solid, and the days are getting longer.
Down in Interlaken you will see the first flowers, the trees starting to wake up, and a general sense that the valley is coming back to life. March through mid-April is still too cool for most summer activities like biking, but from mid-April into May the season really opens up. That is when we say summer starts for us in Interlaken.
May is my second favourite month. The mountains still have snow on them, but the valley is in full bloom. The weather is relatively stable because it is not yet warm enough for the big thunderstorms. The colours at this time of year can be spectacular — fields full of yellow dandelions, fresh green trees fading into white peaks behind them. It does not get much better than this.
February is the driest month on average (around 109 mm / 4.3 inches), so late winter and early spring tend to have more dry days than you would expect.
This is the part where being local actually matters.
Looking at a weather forecast more than two days before an activity only makes limited sense. Most locals I know — myself included — only trust the forecast the day before. And even then, it can go completely differently. So if the forecast looks bad a week ahead, do not stress. It will most likely change a few times before your activity.
The best forecast app for this region is MeteoSwiss. It is the official Swiss federal weather service, and for the alpine region it is significantly more accurate than international apps like AccuWeather or Weather.com. SRF Meteo is another excellent option — it uses MeteoSwiss data with a clean, easy-to-read interface.
A good strategy is to check two or three different apps and see if they agree. If MeteoSwiss, SRF Meteo, and one international app are all saying the same thing, you can be fairly confident. If they disagree, the weather is genuinely uncertain and you should plan for flexibility.
Summer (June–August): Light clothing for warm days, but always carry a light waterproof jacket in your daypack. Layers for the mountains — it can be 10 to 15 degrees cooler at altitude. Sunscreen is essential, especially if you are going above 2,000 metres (6,500 ft). Swimwear for the lakes.
Autumn (September–November): Layers are everything. A warm sweater, a waterproof outer layer, and comfortable walking shoes. Early autumn is mild; by November you may want a proper winter jacket.
Winter (December–February): A warm waterproof coat, thermal layers if you are heading to the mountains, and good boots with grip. In Interlaken itself you can often get away with less than you think — but the mountains are a different story.
Spring (March–May): The trickiest season to pack for. You might experience everything from snow to 20°C (68°F) sunshine in the same week. Layers, waterproofs, and flexible clothing are the way to go.
Summer (June–August): Warm, 21–23°C (70–73°F) in town. July is the warmest month. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons — start activities early. Hail has become more frequent. UV is deceptively strong at altitude.
Autumn (September–November): One of the best times to visit. September is still warm at 19°C (66°F), fewer crowds, stable weather. After mid-October temperatures drop and snow is possible. First ski resorts open late October to early November.
Winter (December–February): Mild in Interlaken itself (around 0 to 4°C / 32 to 39°F). Not much snow at valley level. Go to Wengen or Mürren for reliable winter conditions. Check for Nebelmeer — fog in town often means sunshine above the clouds.
Spring (March–May): Unpredictable but beautiful. March is good for quiet skiing. May is spectacular — snow on peaks, flowers in the valley, stable weather. Summer activities start from mid-April.
Forecast tip: Only trust the forecast one to two days out. Use MeteoSwiss — it is the most accurate for this region.
Golden rule: Whatever the season, bring layers. Interlaken weather changes fast.
Was that too much? Still not sure when to come? We can help you plan your trip through our custom itinerary planning — or hire us as your private tour guide and you have a guarantee that you will have the best weather forecaster in the region with you.