In the south of Switzerland, higher temperatures than ever were recorded at many measuring stations on Christmas Eve. Some of the stations have been in operation for more than 100 years, as SRF Meteo reported. This includes the Lugano station in the canton of Ticino on the border with Italy. According to Meteo Switzerland, 17.1 degrees were measured there on Christmas Eve. On December 23rd there was even a December record with 21.3 degrees. According to SRF Meteo, the previous record was from December 5, 1931, when it was slightly warmer.
According to this information, there were also high temperatures on Christmas Eve in the canton of Graubünden, for example in Poschiavo with 15.6 degrees. 8.9 degrees were measured at the Ofen Pass at an altitude of more than 2,100 meters.
The Christmas thaw pattern is common, SRF Meteo reported. When the polar night begins in Scandinavia at the end of November, a cold high forms and icy air often flows into Central Europe from the north. Because some of the cold air flows into the rather warm Atlantic, low pressure areas form, which often lead to thaws and significantly milder temperatures shortly before Christmas.
