Switzerland Experiences Longest May Heatwave in History, Residents Cool Off by Lakes and with Drinks

According to the Central News Agency (CNA) reporting from Zurich, a heatwave has swept across Western Europe this week, and Switzerland is experiencing its longest May heatwave on record. High-altitude temperatures are rising, accelerating glacier melting. According to the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, temperatures surged at the end of May, coming close to the 1958 record. The highest temperature this week was 33.9°C in Sion, Valais. Rain is forecast for the weekend, which is expected to bring temperatures down. Kimi, an employee at a flower shop in Zurich, said that although there is air conditioning, it is only used at night after work. During business hours, the temperature in the shop stays below 25°C, making air conditioning unnecessary. She also shared that her new apartment uses cold water in the heating pipes, which keeps the indoor temperature at 20°C. Li Siyan, a Taiwanese expatriate teaching at a Swiss elementary school, said that schools provide cold meals and iced tea, and children play with water at school to cool off. Simon, who runs a Taiwanese restaurant in Zurich, told CNA that the heatwave has boosted consumption of hand-shaken drinks, with passion fruit plum green tea and oolong peach tea being particularly popular.