GENEVA, Feb 27, 2007 (AFP) - Swiss meteorologists said Tuesday they had recorded the warmest winter on record for the Alpine country, with average temperatures of three to four degrees celsius above the seasonal norm.
MeteoSuisse said that after cold snaps in the two previous years, this season's high temperatures, which have reduced the snow cover on the plains and the northern slopes of the Alps, show no signs of falling.
For the period from early December to February 22, new records were established in Ajoie (Jura mountains), on the Swiss Plateau, in Engadine (to the east) and in the biggest part of the southern Alps.
For the other regions, namely the Alps, the Jura peaks and the area around Geneva, this winter was the second hottest since records began in 1864.
In Zurich, MeteoSuisse only recorded two days of snow, to a total of 12cm, compared to the average of 16 days, and 70cm. It is only the second time since 1931 that such little snow has fallen, the last time being in 1989/90.
The agency said there has been a clear shift towards milder winters since the mid-1970s, adding that this development fits with climate models on global warming.
02/27/2007 20:01 GMT