Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in Zürich
Zürich: Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change was 65.5 Millimetres per year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in Zürich, 1979–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Millimetres per year.
Analysis
In 2023, exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in Zürich stood at 65.5 Millimetres per year.
That represents a change of up 124.6% on the previous year and up 256.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in Zürich peaked at 353.42 Millimetres per year in 1999 and was at its lowest, -468.43 Millimetres per year, in 2003.
Zürich ranks 243rd of 708 regions on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in Zürich, year by year
| Year | Millimetres per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 105.49 Millimetres per year | — |
| 1980 | 72.57 Millimetres per year | -31.2% |
| 1981 | 335.26 Millimetres per year | +362.0% |
| 1982 | 18.63 Millimetres per year | -94.4% |
| 1983 | 16.01 Millimetres per year | -14.0% |
| 1984 | -27.24 Millimetres per year | -270.1% |
| 1985 | -107.98 Millimetres per year | +296.4% |
| 1986 | -5.69 Millimetres per year | -94.7% |
| 1987 | 119.16 Millimetres per year | -2195.0% |
| 1988 | 195.91 Millimetres per year | +64.4% |
| 1989 | -304.06 Millimetres per year | -255.2% |
| 1990 | -31.67 Millimetres per year | -89.6% |
| 1991 | -164.99 Millimetres per year | +420.9% |
| 1992 | -19.43 Millimetres per year | -88.2% |
| 1993 | -53.84 Millimetres per year | +177.1% |
| 1994 | 67.45 Millimetres per year | -225.3% |
| 1995 | 235.53 Millimetres per year | +249.2% |
| 1996 | -58.03 Millimetres per year | -124.6% |
| 1997 | -191.89 Millimetres per year | +230.7% |
| 1998 | -63.14 Millimetres per year | -67.1% |
| 1999 | 353.42 Millimetres per year | -659.7% |
| 2000 | -9.74 Millimetres per year | -102.8% |
| 2001 | 264.91 Millimetres per year | -2820.2% |
| 2002 | 247.41 Millimetres per year | -6.6% |
| 2003 | -468.43 Millimetres per year | -289.3% |
| 2004 | -163.57 Millimetres per year | -65.1% |
| 2005 | -140.18 Millimetres per year | -14.3% |
| 2006 | -52.07 Millimetres per year | -62.9% |
| 2007 | 58.62 Millimetres per year | -212.6% |
| 2008 | 3.78 Millimetres per year | -93.5% |
| 2009 | -70.84 Millimetres per year | -1973.1% |
| 2010 | 16.71 Millimetres per year | -123.6% |
| 2011 | -201.47 Millimetres per year | -1305.8% |
| 2012 | 76.3 Millimetres per year | -137.9% |
| 2013 | 18.35 Millimetres per year | -75.9% |
| 2014 | 48.09 Millimetres per year | +162.1% |
| 2015 | -155.19 Millimetres per year | -422.7% |
| 2016 | 51.17 Millimetres per year | -133.0% |
| 2017 | 35.32 Millimetres per year | -31.0% |
| 2018 | -284.64 Millimetres per year | -905.8% |
| 2019 | -23.8 Millimetres per year | -91.6% |
| 2020 | -136.16 Millimetres per year | +472.2% |
| 2021 | 112.67 Millimetres per year | -182.7% |
| 2022 | -266.45 Millimetres per year | -336.5% |
| 2023 | 65.5 Millimetres per year | -124.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in Zürich changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +2820.2% | -9.74 Millimetres per year | 264.91 Millimetres per year |
| 1987 | +2195.0% | -5.69 Millimetres per year | 119.16 Millimetres per year |
| 2009 | -1973.1% | 3.78 Millimetres per year | -70.84 Millimetres per year |
| 2011 | -1305.8% | 16.71 Millimetres per year | -201.47 Millimetres per year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 105.49 Millimetres per year | 105.49 Millimetres per year | 105.49 Millimetres per year | 1 |
| 1980s | 31.26 Millimetres per year | -304.06 Millimetres per year | 335.26 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.34 Millimetres per year | -191.89 Millimetres per year | 353.42 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 2000s | -33.01 Millimetres per year | -468.43 Millimetres per year | 264.91 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 2010s | -41.92 Millimetres per year | -284.64 Millimetres per year | 76.3 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 2020s | -56.11 Millimetres per year | -266.45 Millimetres per year | 112.67 Millimetres per year | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zürich
More reference data data for Zürich
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs — Cooling degree -50.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs — Change in cooling -121.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs, annual growth rate -3.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs — Change in heating -24.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs — Change in heating -408.23 Degree days (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs 2,185 Degree days (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs — Cooling degree 35.69 Degree days (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days - Cities and FUAs — Change in cooling -6.24 Degree days (2025)
- Precipitation - Cities and FUAs — Extreme precipitation days 10.83 Days per year (2024)
- Precipitation - Cities and FUAs — Change in extreme precipitation 0.7137 Days per year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in Zürich?
- Exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in Zürich was 65.5 Millimetres per year in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change recorded in Zürich?
- The highest recorded value was 353.42 Millimetres per year in 1999.
- What is the lowest exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change recorded in Zürich?
- The lowest recorded value was -468.43 Millimetres per year in 2003.
- How does Zürich rank for exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change?
- Zürich ranks 243rd out of 708 regions with data for 2023.
- Is exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change rising or falling in Zürich?
- Over the last ten years it is up 256.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zürich data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The dataset provides a global assessment of changes in average precipitation by providing the precipitation anomaly and provides a global assessment of extreme precipitation through the use of two precipitation indices, i.e. very heavy precipitation days and frequency of extreme precipitation events. Exposure indicators to extreme precipitation have been prepared jointly by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Please see the working paper for a more complete description of the methods. The datasets span the period 1979-2022, depending on data availability and are the result of the use of a variety of geospatial data sources as referenced in the Working Paper. The dataset has a global coverage on a national level; on the sub-national TL2 level (i.e. large subnational regions) results are reported for all OECD countries as well as for Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. A number of aggregates are included: Euro area, European Union, Advanced economies, Emerging market economies, G7, G20, OECD, OECD Europe, OECD Asia Oceania, OECD Americas and the LAC region. Data source(s): Copernicus Climate Data Store precipitation data (ERA5) and Copernicus Climate Change Initiative land cover data. Contact: ENV.Stat@oecd.org Database documentation