Zurich records about 1134mm of rain across roughly 133 wet days a year, which is a 36% chance on an average day. June is the wettest month at 128mm (11% of the annual total) and February the driest at 69mm. Local rain type: steady rain. Zurich receives substantial rainfall year-round with peaks in summer. A quality rain jacket is essential — Alpine weather systems can bring sudden heavy rain.
Chance of rain on an average day: 36%
Rainfall climatology for Zurich. 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 | 1134mm |
| Rain days per year | 133 |
| Odds on an average day | 36% |
| Wettest month | June — 128mm over 16 days |
| Driest month | February — 69mm over 8 days |
| Rain type | steady rain |
| Best dry window | September and October offer the clearest weather with stunning Alpine views — ideal for city exploration. |
| Worst rain window | June through August has the most rainfall, often as afternoon thunderstorms rolling off the Alps. |
June delivers 86% more rain than February (128mm vs 69mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 11% of the annual total, so rain in Zurich is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Zurich rain typically comes as discrete showers, so a compact umbrella and a flexible plan are usually enough.
Rain falls on about 16 days in June against 8 in February — 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 | 74mm | 9 | 30% | 3°C |
| February | 69mm | 8 | 27% | 3°C |
| March | 80mm | 10 | 33% | 6°C |
| April | 89mm | 11 | 37% | 11°C |
| May | 101mm | 12 | 40% | 17°C |
| June | 128mm | 16 | 53% | 22°C |
| July | 105mm | 13 | 43% | 25°C |
| August | 124mm | 15 | 50% | 25°C |
| September | 84mm | 10 | 33% | 22°C |
| October | 77mm | 9 | 30% | 17°C |
| November | 91mm | 11 | 37% | 11°C |
| December | 75mm | 9 | 30% | 6°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Zurich 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.
Zurich records rain on roughly 133 days a year — about a 36% chance on any given day — totalling around 1134mm.
June, with about 128mm over 16 rain days. That is 11% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
February is the driest month at 69mm across roughly 8 days. September and October offer the clearest weather with stunning Alpine views — ideal for city exploration.
Zurich receives substantial rainfall year-round with peaks in summer. A quality rain jacket is essential — Alpine weather systems can bring sudden heavy rain.
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.