We are going on the tour in a few days. Looking at weather forecasts starting May 29, the day we arrive for 10 days, shows me rain in various forms. Has anyone dealt with extensive days of rain on this trip? We are bummed. We know things can change, but many of our activities are weather dependent. We have appropriate clothing, but we don’t want to hike in pouring rain. Too easy to fall and then there’s the issue of no visibility, We just returned from 10 days in the greater Yellowstone area yesterday. We had rain, sleet, snow every day but two. Then the day we left was gloriously sunny. Again we had appropriate clothing, but it’s not as fun slopping through mud. At least in Yellowstone we saw animals like crazy. They come out rain or shine. And we’d been there many times, so seeing scenery was not a priority. The Alpine trip is a different beast. I surely hope we can at least get some glimpses of the Alps and can hike occasionally. We don’t do shopping so that won’t be our alternate activity. I know there’s nothing we can do about it. I won’t be a grump on the tour, but sheesh, I hope the forecasters are full of beans.
Posted by
Chicago
3574 posts
What weather app/website are you using? I like meteoblue and meteoswiss.
Don’t worry, the weather apps always show rain before my trips, and I’ve rarely had any rain. For the mountains, it is especially difficult to predict more than a day or two in advance. And even then, always recheck the night before and in the morning. I think you’ll find that if you have rain, it won’t be an all day rain.
Have a great tour! I'm taking this tour next year.
Posted by
Chicago
3574 posts
P.S. When I was in Switzerland last June, I was using 3 different weather apps (the two mentioned above and the weather channel) and most days they were all wrong. So, sometimes, you just don’t know what the weather is going to be until you step outside.
Posted by
North Carolina
20 posts
SD….please post after your trip to let us know how it went. My husband and I are taking this trip at the end of August and are also hoping for nice weather!
Posted by
Atlanta
2568 posts
I went on this fantastic tour mid-September, 2023 and had wonderful sunny weather with temperatures in the 70’s. We had one cloudy and rainy cool day in Füssen, Germany and that was it. Occasionally my weather app would indicate clouds but we really lucked out with great weather.
I hope you have fabulous weather too. This is a great tour.
Posted by
West Coast
301 posts
It was a fantastic tour and I was there early June last year, also. And saw forecasts of rain prior to departure, too. (I use FrogWeather.)
But "rain" can mean just one passing shower.
And it will likely change as it gets closer!
We had mostly cloudy days with moderate temperatures. A couple days were sunny. Your Yellowstone clothes will be perfect. But almost always every day, the Alpine peaks peeked out at some point!
A couple trails I'd hoped to hike were closed due to trail conditions and later in Chamonix it simply poured (a blizzard at the top, for the few who went anyway) one morning but when the sky cleared the view was jaw dropping and the afternoon just lovely.
The walk down to Gimmelwald was an absolute highlight. Be sure to do that! That is a paved road and a pretty gentle grade. (I'm a big hiker.) The trail I ended up going on was gorgeous, too, despite not being the famous one I can't remember the name of now :)
I hope you have a fantastic time. As a PNWesterner pretty spoiled for mountains and views, even with some clouds and rain showers the tour immerses you in the region and it is just spectacular! Don't worry!
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
2045 posts
Rain is predicted the same as in this country. Check the "chance percentage ahead". As mentioned, sometimes it could be a 20 minute rain shower even before you get outside. Just have in the back of your mind a, "what if it rains all day plan."