Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 27th December 2014
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson
Becoming very cold across northern and central Europe
Saturday
Low pressure moves south-east into central Europe on Saturday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain and snow. A period of heavy snowfall is expected for the Swiss and French Alps in particular. An unsettled day for France as a cold front sweeps south, with a mix of rain, sleet and snow, arriving in the south by afternoon, and heavy snow developing for the Pyrenees. Heavy snow in western Germany, accompanied by strong winds. A cold, cloudy and windy day for eastern Germany. Dry for eastern Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland, although cold. A few showers for Denmark. Staying cold across Scandinavia, with sunshine and the risk of snow showers in the Baltic. Spain and Portugal remain dry and fine with sunshine, best in the south and west. Northern Italy becomes wet, with snow in the mountains, although dry in the south until nightfall. Heavy bursts of rain developing for Corsica and Sardinia. Unsettled in Turkey, with frequent rain, although the Greek islands, mainland Greece and the Adriatic coast should remain fair. Showers developing into rain for Cyprus.
Sunday
Low pressure will dominate central and southern Europe on Sunday, with cold air spreading extensively across central and northern Europe. Rain and snow affects northern Spain and the Pyrenees, but Portugal and south-western Spain remain largely dry. Residual snow affects southern France, the Swiss and Austian Alps, plus northern Italy. Heavy rain and snow pushes south across Italy, Corsica and Sardinia. The Balkan States also see heavy rain and snow. Western Greece becomes wet, although the islands are brighter with scattered showers. Rain continues to affect southern Turkey and Cyprus, but much of Turkey and the Black Sea region will be dry although quite cloudy. A very cold north-easterly wind will suppress temperatures across northern France, Belgium, the Low Countries and Germany, although it will be mostly dry. Cold for Scandinavia, with snow showers frequent in western Norway, but typically dry with some sun for Sweden and Finland. Snow showers in the Baltic.