Hello!

I am considering a move to the Zurich area, and I am wondering how the weather/climate compares to that of North Yorkshire. Anyone from Yorkshire or the North of England out there in EF who can answer my question?

One reason for my wanting to move away from North Yorkshire is to leave behind the chilly, damp, grey weather that seems to be constant, even in summer here. How does Zurich area compare? Similar or less grey or less chilly? Or perhaps more grey, or more rain? Any feedback is appreciated.

Please note: I'm also considering a move to other areas of the world, Zurich is in the mix because of a potential job opportunity. Final destination undecided for now.

Thank you in advance for any responses.
J

I think you'll find that Zurich is a lot drier than North Yorkshire.
Here there is less rain and more sun. Definitely more like four real seasons in Switzerland compared to the one rainy season of Northern England. ( I come from south Lancashire and was there over Christmas, I couldn't wait to get away from the rain and back to Switzerland.).

http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Zu...erages/CH.aspx

I'm from the North West originally and live in Zurich now.

Comparing Zurich to the whole of the UK, I would say that in Summer it is hotter and in winter it is colder, but that isn't the whole story. There is a lot less rain, but you can be guaranteed some snow in the winter. There is also a lot less wind, so to me although the temperature is colder in the winter it is much more pleasant as there is no driving rain or cold north wind. Summer also seems to last well into September and October too with a brief autumn before winter. Strangely though July and August are the wettest months of the year.

There are also lots of outdoor pools here, which you definitely don't get in the NW of England, and the city pastime is using them and the lakes and rivers in summer, so that should give you an idea of how pleasant the summer sun can be (and if it's not hot or sunny enough for you on a given weekend it's only 3 hours to Italy).

Thank you both so much. Very helpful. Of course I'm not thinking of moving to Zurich solely because of the weather, but climate will factor in any decision we make to move, wherever that may be.

Putting aside the fact that this is (with all due respect) a pretty limited way of assessing the weather difference - asking a bunch of strangers about the difference between two places - one of which they no longer experience! Ask anybody what the average weather was like last week with any degree of accuracy and they can't do it....so get some average weather data online.

Having said all of that, everything is better in Zurich than in Yorkshire. The sun is brighter, the rain warmer, the snow softer, the girls prettier and the beer tastier. And, the Swiss are more open-minded than the people of Yorkshire which is (google it if you don't believe me), unique on the planet.

It is a limited way of comparing the weather - and I did check average annual rainfall, temperature, etc. online - but those stats weren't giving me what I was looking for, namely a personal opinion.

So for me, and for what I wanted to achieve, posting this question on EF is helpful.

Thanks again.

I am from North Yorkshire and have lived in Switzerland for nearly 17 years.

The people where I grew up are definitely more open and outwardly friendly than in Switzerland.

Unlike the North West, the weather is not all that wet in the North East. The part of N Yorkshire I'm from has more of a maritime climate and clouds usually move fairly fast pushed by a sea breeze.

Is it wetter in Basel or Zurich than N Yorks? Hard to say - last year it rained for 6 weeks without any let up in May here in Switzerland. it is certainly more humid here than in North Yorkshire!!

The weather is definitely warmer in Switzerland than Northern England. Summers can be mediterranean here, which is lovely, but if you have to work most buildings do not have air con so you need to imagine a hot day in Majorca or Spain, without a/c and having to sit in an office and function. Most people are dripping buckets and have fans pushing hot air around an office with pretty low productivity especially in the afternoon! We usually have around a month where it's like that, sometimes longer. The heat started a bit early this year!

Lifestyle is good "if" you have a job and earn enough money here.

The mountains are beautiful, but personally I prefer the coast and particularly the Moors in North Yorks. That is just a personal thing. I have never experienced the 'magic' I feel standing up on the moors with vast views out to the North Sea anywhere else.

Many people on this forum are long time residents of Switzerland, like me with either Swiss spouses or kids who have been born and raised here. Lots of positives about raising a child here too.

But to be honest, the Swiss culture is not an easy one to integrate into and the majority of people do go through a few years of negativity and struggle before things even off and the place becomes home. I see that as a positive aspect too - but it can take time and patience.

We let people from North Yorkshire in

How very dare you slag off God's own county! No wensleydales cheese for you!