Do I need a chalet or hotel with air conditioning in Wengen in July? I realize it is usually cool in the mountains, but I see the forecast there this week is 88 degrees F. Is air conditioning rare in most chalets or hotels?

Hi brubenow,

A couple of notes about weather in mountain towns --

The weather on 1 July doesn't mean there will be the same type of weather on 10 July. I live in a mountain town, and I can tell you that our "summer weather" comes in spurts of 3, 4, or 5 days of sun and warmth. However, those spurts can come any time between April and November, and there's no telling in advance when they come. In between those spurts, the weather is pleasant and fall-like with some cloudiness, some sunshine, sometimes temps in the 70s or temps in the 60s. So, just because it will be warm on 1 and 2 July doesn't mean it will continue to be warm on 10 July.

Secondly, weather in mountain towns is absolutely almost-impossible to predict. I always consult at least two weather forecasts and usually three, and see if they agree on temps or probability of rain. If 2 or more agree, then it might come true. But forecasts any more than 24 hours in advance (and often 12 hours) is just a guess.

But to answer your questions, yes, air conditioning is super rare in chalets and hotels in Switzerland and in mountain towns. Most people will tell you simply to open the windows if you want "air conditioning" .. . And that will usually be enough. Temps can drop 10 or 15 degrees at night.

I'm not even sure there are any hotels with air conditioning in Wengen --

Have fun as you plan!

s

Stating the obvious, but it also depends on what you're used to. We live in a city where it is regularly very hot in the summer but we're accustomed to not having air conditioning at home. But your experience may be very different. The humidity also makes a big difference. We were recently in Luzern when it was extremely humid and it was that we noticed more than the temperature.

I'd say no, you don't need A/C in mountain towns, and Wengen is one. But that's irrelevant, as I very much doubt you'll find a place with A/C in Wengen at all.

From July 1 through July 8, the Wengen forecast calls for highs between mid 80s and high 80s (F). That is pretty warm for the mountains. But the skies will be clear, so it will cool off at night, down to about 60 or so.

If you really don't like the heat, ask for a room that gets afternoon shade. With the long hours of sunshine, it will be much cooler than a room that gets afternoon sun. Also ask if a fan is provided.

One thing to remember during heat waves in the Alps: localized thunderstorms can and do pop up in the late afternoons or evenings and they can be pretty intense (but often short-lived).

Luzern is down in the valley by the lake. Wengen is high up in the mountains with a very different climate. That comparison is useless.

No one has air condition in Alpine villages because it is not needed. It would just be a waste of energy that can and should be avoided.

Humidity is going to be the biggest issue in terms of comfort. Our last time in the area we had a hotel with windows that opened. Unfortunately, there was a major problem with flies but we managed.

Heat is also a form of "air conditioning" and nobody in Switzerland is going to be foolish enough to tell you that it "isn't needed" in the winter.

Is the Berner Oberland area as humid as the East Coast of the US?

Holy crap - Wengen is at an altitude of more than 1200 metres so it obviously does not have a coastal climate!

And heating is not done by blowing temperated air into the room from an electrical device, hence it isn't "air condition".

"Is the Berner Oberland area as humid as the East Coast of the US?"

On rare occasions, certainly! For example, this Saturday, the high in Wengen is supposed to be about 90 degrees. And there is also a 50% chance of thunderstorms, so if you're in Wengen on that day, you will feel both heat and humidity.

I've hiked from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen on a day not quite that warm, but definitely in the 80s. And yes, it was humid, not Philadelphia in July humid, but not dry either.

But this type of heat and humidity is not the norm. Last night, on the weather forecast on SF1, they compared the building heat wave to a similar period of heat in 2003, which as many people will recall, was a very hot summer in Europe.