Lucerne records about 1180mm of rain across roughly 145 wet days a year, which is a 40% chance on an average day. July is the wettest month at 160mm (14% of the annual total) and January the driest at 55mm. Local rain type: steady rain. Lucerne is one of Switzerland's wetter cities — an umbrella is essential year-round. Summer thunderstorms can be intense but often clear to reveal stunning Alpine panoramas.
Chance of rain on an average day: 40%
Rainfall climatology for Lucerne. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Annual rainfall | 1180mm |
| Rain days per year | 145 |
| Odds on an average day | 40% |
| Wettest month | July — 160mm over 20 days |
| Driest month | January — 55mm over 7 days |
| Rain type | steady rain |
| Best dry window | September and October offer the best chance of clear, dry weather with spectacular autumn colors on surrounding peaks. |
| Worst rain window | June through August brings frequent afternoon thunderstorms — mornings are typically clearer for mountain excursions. |
July delivers 191% more rain than January (160mm vs 55mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 14% of the annual total, so rain in Lucerne is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Lucerne rain typically comes as discrete showers, so a compact umbrella and a flexible plan are usually enough.
Rain falls on about 20 days in July against 7 in January — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.
Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.
| Month | Rainfall | Rain days | Chance on a given day | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55mm | 7 | 23% | 4°C |
| February | 55mm | 7 | 23% | 4°C |
| March | 70mm | 9 | 30% | 7°C |
| April | 90mm | 11 | 37% | 12°C |
| May | 120mm | 15 | 50% | 17°C |
| June | 150mm | 19 | 63% | 22°C |
| July | 160mm | 20 | 67% | 25°C |
| August | 155mm | 19 | 63% | 25°C |
| September | 100mm | 13 | 43% | 22°C |
| October | 75mm | 9 | 30% | 17°C |
| November | 70mm | 9 | 30% | 12°C |
| December | 60mm | 8 | 27% | 7°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Lucerne we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly probability | 40% | Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours. |
| Expected volume | 30% | Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking. |
| Timing & duration | 20% | When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window. |
| Local rain type | 10% | Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear. |
Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.
Lucerne records rain on roughly 145 days a year — about a 40% chance on any given day — totalling around 1180mm.
July, with about 160mm over 20 rain days. That is 14% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
January is the driest month at 55mm across roughly 7 days. September and October offer the best chance of clear, dry weather with spectacular autumn colors on surrounding peaks.
Lucerne is one of Switzerland's wetter cities — an umbrella is essential year-round. Summer thunderstorms can be intense but often clear to reveal stunning Alpine panoramas.
No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.