Lausanne Monthly Rainfall & Precipitation

This page shows both the average monthly rainfall and the number of rainy days in Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland. The figures are based on a 30-year period (1990–2020) to provide a reliable average. Let's now guide you through the details for a complete overview.

Lausanne has a notably wet climate with abundant precipitation, recording 1393 mm (55 in) of rain/snowfall per year.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm (0.01 in))

Year-round, Lausanne has a balanced climate with minimal variation in precipitation. The difference between the wettest month, December, with 129 mm (5.1 in), and the driest month, March, with 101 mm (4 in), is minimal.

December, the wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 7°C (45°F). The city receives 57 hours of sunshine in this period. During the driest month March you can expect a temperature of 10°C (50°F). For more detailed insights into the city's temperatures, visit our Lausanne Temperature page.

Lausanne's average annual precipitation is 1393 mm (55 in). Let's compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

The climate in San Francisco, USA, is influenced by coastal weather, with 469 mm (18 in) of rainfall mostly during the winter months.

Osaka, Japan, experiences 1507 mm (59 in) of rainfall annually, spread across the year with wetter summers.

Melbourne, Australia, has 690 mm (27 in) of rainfall annually, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Bangkok, Thailand, experiences a tropical monsoon climate with 1668 mm (66 in) of annual rainfall, with the heaviest precipitation occurring during September and October.

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Climate change is affecting precipitation patterns worldwide, including Lausanne:

• Changing Rainfall Patterns: Global warming causes drastic changes in the patterns of rainfall. Some areas have been experiencing increased frequency and intensity of rainfall, while other areas experience longer dry spells or even droughts.
• Local Impacts: Many regions are experiencing heavier rainfall in the winter months and drier, hotter summers. This affects agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems.

• The U.S. has a significant number of thunderstorms every year, with over 14.6 million taking place across the world annually.
• Approximately 70% of lightning bolts strike land rather than oceans.
• A storm named John was the longest-lasting Pacific tropical storm, continuing for 31 days. As it crossed the dateline twice, it changed status from a hurricane to a typhoon and back to a hurricane.

For more detailed information about Lausanne's weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Lausanne Climate page.