Geneva sits at the southwestern tip of Lake Geneva where the Rhône leaves the lake, at around 375–400 metres elevation and approximately 46.20°N, 6.14°E, wedged between the Jura mountains and the Alps. It has a temperate, moderately continental climate with cold winters and warm summers, softened a little by the large lake and by its western, more Atlantic-influenced position, which makes it milder and sunnier than the cities of the central Swiss plateau.

Summer, from June to August, is warm and among the sunniest times of year, with July the warmest month — average highs around 25–26°C and cooler nights, freshened by breezes off the lake. The Azores High can bring long fine spells, but afternoon thunderstorms are common, and heatwaves have grown more frequent, pushing temperatures into the mid- to high-30s; the record reached nearly 40°C in July 2015. Even in high summer, clear nights can turn surprisingly cool.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and often grey, with January the coldest month — average highs around 5°C and nights near or below freezing. Overcast, foggy days are common when a cloud blanket settles over the lowlands. Snow falls a few times each winter, totalling around 30 cm, but often melts within hours once milder westerly air returns. Frost and freezing fog are the more persistent winter features.

Geneva receives generous, well-distributed precipitation — on the order of 925–1,000 mm a year — with no true dry season. Cold-season rain comes mainly from Atlantic depressions, while summer adds convective afternoon thunderstorms, giving a late-spring and autumn maximum. Autumn, especially October, tends to be the wettest time. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Two local winds define Geneva's weather. The bise is a cold, dry northeasterly that funnels down the lake, sharpening the winter chill and often clearing the sky. The föhn is a warm, dry downslope wind off the Alps that can raise temperatures abruptly, most often in spring and autumn. The lake itself moderates extremes and feeds the cool summer breezes that make the city more comfortable than its neighbours inland.

To follow any single measurement in Geneva more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.