Climate Lake Constance

The climate year of Lake Constance

Lake Constance is located in the northern foothills of the Alps and is formed by the Obersee and Untersee lakes. It borders three countries: Germany, Austria and Switzerland and is crossed by the Rhine. It is two lakes connected by the 4 km long See-Rhein near Constance. The climate of Lake Constance is mild, but it is considered a stressful climate due to frequent fog in winter and sultriness in summer. This is also influenced by the foehn, which occurs throughout the year. The Föhn is a warm downdraft wind from the Alps that can cause wave crests several meters high with hurricane-like winds. For water sports enthusiasts, the sudden changes in weather with strong squalls are very dangerous. During summer thunderstorms, squalls may occur that reach wave heights of up to 3.50 meters. Therefore, there is a storm warning system that all three bordering countries monitor together. Flashing lights are installed around Lake Constance, which flash 40 times a minute when there is a warning of strong winds, and 90 times when there is a storm warning. All Lake Constance ships and ferries signal the danger by means of a storm balloon raised from the mast.

General information about Lake Constance

In and around Lake Constance, visitors can make many interesting excursions. For example, in the northwestern part lies the island of Mainau, with Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical vegetation and is called the Island of Flowers. You can find in the park sequoia trees, cedars from the Atlas Mountains and 250 different trees from all parts of the world. The perennial garden consists of 700 different native and non-native plants and it is especially beautiful when the rose garden is in bloom or when there is an orchid show in the palm house. The Lake Dwelling Museum in Unteruhldingen has been displaying reconstructions of lake dwellings and over 1000 original finds from Lake Constance in its archaeological museum since 1922. The new multimedia show shows what the pile dwellings look like underwater. Reichenau Island is located in the Lower Lake, two kilometers from the northern shore. It is the largest island in Lake Constance and can be reached by car, bicycle or on foot via an island causeway.

Tourism Lake Constance

Parts of the lower lake have a shallow water depth and therefore often freeze over, for example this is the case in Markelfinger Winkel. But when the entire Lake Constance is frozen, it is already a century event and this has been the case only three times so far: in 1830, 1880 and 1963! Then it was possible to cross the entire Lake Constance safely on foot. Otherwise, the average water temperature in summer is 19°C, sometimes 25°C. In October, the water temperature is only 13°C.