Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 12th November 2016
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Heavy rain and snow in south-eastern Europe

Saturday
High pressure influences central Europe and areas surrounding the Baltic, whilst low pressure brings unsettled conditions to the Balkan region, and a front approaches north-western areas from the Atlantic.
Dry, sunny and warm for southern Spain and Portugal, highs 20C. Thickening cloud for northern Iberia, and rain spreads onto the Biscay coasts later. This band of persistent rain also spreads across north-western France during the day, but south-eastern France and the western Alps should stay dry. Dry and bright in north & western Italy. Windy for the Alps, and countries to the east including Slovakia and Hungary. Areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms will be widespread across south-eastern Europe, including mainland Greece . Largely dry and warm for the Greek Islands but the breeze will freshen. Snow for the Czech Republic, eastern Austria & southern Poland. Meanwhile, northern Poland, Germany and Denmark will see a fine day, but cold at 1 to 5C. A freshening breeze across the Low Countries - patchy rain arriving later. Much of Scandinavia will be dry and cold, temperatures staying sub-zero. Showers then persistent snow & rain in western Norway.

Sunday
Warm and sunny across west & southern Spain and Portugal, temperatures rising to 22C around the Algarve. Cloudy, breezy and cool around the Biscay coast. Weak fronts across France and the Low Countries bring extensive cloud and patchy rain. Some snow for Switzerland. A fair day for most of Italy, the eastern Alps and Germany. Cool across central-northern Europe, 2 to 5C. Sunny and warm for Greece and the eastern Mediterranean, highs 20C. Low pressure moves slowly north across Romania and Ukraine, bringing strong winds and persistent rain around the Black Sea, whilst inland areas will see rain turn into a period of heavy snowfall, particularly over the Carpathian mountains, starting in the early hours and lasting much of Sunday. Fairly cloudy across Scandinavia, and patchy snow affects Norway and southern Sweden, temperatures remaining near or below freezing. Dry for Finland, the Baltic states and most of Poland.