Skip to main content

Spatial climate normals

Spatial climate analyses depict the geographic distribution of a meteorological parameter. They are derived from measurements at weather stations, satellites and radar. The data is represented comprehensively on a grid covering all of Switzerland.

Spatial analyses of long-term averages (climate normals) are available for A. Temperature, Precipitation and Sunshine and for B. Radiation and Clouds.


A. Temperature, Precipitation and Sunshine

  • surface based
  • 30-year periods (1991-2020 and 1961-1990) defined by the World Meteorological Organisation WMO are used to allow for international comparability.

Parameters included are:

IdentifierDescription
RnormM9120Mean monthly precipitation (norm value, 1991–2020)
RnormY9120Mean yearly precipitation (norm value, 1991–2020)
RnormM6190Mean monthly precipitation (norm, 1961–1990)
RnormY6190Mean yearly precipitation (norm, 1961–1990)
TnormM9120Mean monthly mean temperature (norm, 1991–2020)
TnormY9120Mean yearly mean temperature (norm, 1991–2020)
TnormM6190Mean monthly mean temperature (norm, 1961–1990)
TnormY6190Mean yearly mean temperature (norm, 1961–1990)
TminnormM9120Mean monthly daily minimum temperature (norm, 1991–2020)
TminnormY9120Mean yearly daily minimum temperature (norm, 1991–2020)
TmaxnormM9120Mean monthly daily maximum temperature (norm, 1991–2020)
TmaxnormY9120Mean yearly daily maximum temperature (norm, 1991–2020)
SnormM9120Mean monthly relative sunshine duration (norm, 1991–2020)
SnormY9120Mean yearly relative sunshine duration (norm, 1991–2020)
SnormM6190Mean monthly relative sunshine duration (norm, 1961–1990)
SnormY6190Mean yearly relative sunshine duration (norm, 1961–1990)

B. Radiation and Clouds

  • satellite based
  • The average period of 2004-2020 is available.

Parameters included are:

IdentifierDescription
ALBaverageM0420Average monthly albedo (average 2004–2020)
ALBaverageY0420Average yearly albedo (average 2004–2020)
CFCaverageM0420Average monthly cloud fractional cover (average 2004–2020)
CFCaverageY0420Average yearly cloud fractional cover (average 2004–2020)
NLRaverageM0420Average monthly net longwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
NLRaverageY0420Average yearly net longwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
NSRaverageM0420Average monthly net shortwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
NSRaverageY0420Average yearly net shortwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
SDLaverageM0420Average monthly surface downward longwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
SDLaverageY0420Average yearly surface downward longwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
SISaverageM0420Average monthly surface incoming solar radiation (average 2004–2020)
SISaverageY0420Average yearly surface incoming solar radiation (average 2004–2020)
SOLaverageM0420Average monthly surface outgoing longwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
SOLaverageY0420Average yearly surface outgoing longwave radiation (average 2004–2020)
SRBaverageM0420Average monthly surface radiation budget (average 2004–2020)
SRBaverageY0420Average yearly surface radiation budget (average 2004–2020)

Data download

The Open Data from MeteoSwiss may be used without restriction; the source must be cited when reproducing or redistributing ("Source: MeteoSwiss").

By using 'Open Data' from MeteoSchweiz, you confirm that you have taken note of the Terms of use.

Download data automatically

Download files automatically via FSDI's REST API: https://data.geo.admin.ch/api/stac/v1/collections/ch.meteoschweiz.ogd-climate-normals-grid/items/ch

The STAC Browser can be a useful tool to facilitate the use of the API: https://data.geo.admin.ch/browser/index.html#/collections/ch.meteoschweiz.ogd-climate-normals-grid/items/ch

Data format

The data formats are

  • NetCDF with an estimated volume of 1 MB for yearly and 5 MB for monthly values.

Coordinate system

The coordinate system for the surface based data (i.e. Temperature, Precipitation and Sunshine) is Swiss LV95 / EPSG:2056
and for the satellite based data (i.e. Radiation and Clouds) is WGS84 / EPSG:4326.

Data usage

See e.g. MeteoSwiss' Norm value charts application.