Issued: 0530hrs Sunday 13th March 2018
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Drier eastern Europe; warm southern areas

Sunday
Low pressure is situated over Biscay on Sunday, producing unsettled conditions for much of western Europe. Areas of heavy rain spreading from the west across Spain and Portugal. Driest toward eastern Spain. Thundery showers for the western Mediterranean. A zone of heavy rain affects northern Italy most of the day, with snow in the Alps. Topping 20C on Sicily. Fairly warm for France, 14 to 18C, warmest south-west, but bursts of rain will move erratically north & east. Windy around Biscay coasts, up to gale force producing heavy seas. Some rain for the Low Countries, but much of Germany should stay dry and warm, up to 17C. Plenty of dry weather for eastern Europe. Warm for Greece and the Black Sea with good amounts of sun, 16 to 20C. Cooler toward the Baltic, and only just above freezing for much of Scandinavia, and northern areas staying sub-zero. Some snow for southern Norway, and a few flurries in the north, otherwise dry.

Monday
A complex series of low pressure systems affect much of Europe, bringing areas of persistent rain or showers to many countries. A ridge of high pressure brings a brighter day to Spain, although fronts return later into Portugal bringing further rain. Windy and showery for France. Scattered bursts of rain for the Mediterranean and Italy. Areas of rain affect Germany. Locally persistent rain spreads into the Balkans and also Austria and the Czech Republic. Greece and the Black Sea should stay dry and warm, 17 to 22C. Fronts pivot north into Scandinavia, with snow and rain for Sweden and Norway. Finland and the Baltic states should be dry, but fairly cool, 2 to 5C, or colder in the north.