Swiss mountain peaks in February - suitable weather conditions?
A friend of mine based in India is planning a trip to Switzerland in Feb 2012
He's worried about how severe the winter will be - will it cause the peaks like Mt Jungfrau or Titlis to be closed or inaccessible?
Is it a good time for sightseeing then? Mainly from a weather point of view - since winters in India are quite mild. Will it be really chilly in Switzerland?
Best Answer
As you can see here, the Jungfraujochbahn is open the whole year. But as Jacco already said, it could be a little bit cold. So you have to prepare and take warm clothes with you even if it is warm in the lower valleys.
Another thing you should think about that you will move up until ~3500 meters. So be aware that you can get altitude sick.
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Is February good time to visit Switzerland?
Winter and summer are excellent times to visit Switzerland as the mountainous country is popular for both skiing and hiking. January and February are ideal for skiing with below freezing temperatures, making snow practically guaranteed in places around 5,000 feet in elevation.What is the weather like in Switzerland in February?
February Weather in Z\xfcrich Switzerland. Daily high temperatures increase by 5\xb0F, from 39\xb0F to 44\xb0F, rarely falling below 28\xb0F or exceeding 56\xb0F. Daily low temperatures are around 28\xb0F, rarely falling below 16\xb0F or exceeding 39\xb0F.Is there snow in Switzerland in February?
Snow in Switzerland mostly falls in January, February and March. During these months, temperatures are lowest and the zero-degree limit drops. Snowfall is not limited to that season. It's common from October to April.Is it always snowing in the Swiss Alps?
Switzerland is not covered in snow all year long, not even in winter.When is the best time to visit Switzerland? (Weather, Activities and Travel)
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Answer 2
I went to the top of Jungfrau in January 2007 (almost the same temperature levels as February) and kind of liked the adventure, as it was snowy and stormy. Although most part of Switzerland is mountainous, they have pretty good infrastructure. This applies to Jungfrau too, where they have bore into the mountains and created Cog railway. This is one of the reasons why the trip to Jungfraujoch is expensive.
Switzerland (or any other cold country) is worth to explore in both summer and winter, as the nature and landscape look totally different. Also, the advantage of visiting Switzerland in winter is that it is less touristic/commercial when compared to summer.
If you plan on visiting Jungfraujoch in winter, start as early as possible, as the train service closes at around 4 PM, coz it gets dark after that. Also, check the weather forecast before doing that.
EDIT: As for mountains, they are not closed in winter, but most of the mountain passes (For Ex: Susten Pass, Great St. Bernardino Pass, etc) will be closed in winter.
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