Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 4th August 2016
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Heavy rain spreads across central Europe tonight

Thursday
Low pressure resides across northern Europe, whilst a cold front extends from the Baltic to Biscay, and slack high pressure influences the south & east of the continent.
A northerly breeze for Portugal. Hot and dry across much of Spain, highs 30 to 35 on the Costas, nearing 40C inland. However, rain is expected along the Biscay coast. Heavy possibly thundery rain is likely to develop across central France, spreading from the west. This system will reach Alpine areas and the south coast later, bringing prolonged downpours and thunder. Staying hot in southern France, fresher with showers in the north. Italy, the Balkans and areas toward the Black Sea will be hot and dry with plenty of sunshine, temperatures widely into the 30s Celsius.
Breezy and feeling fresh across northern-central Europe, temperatures 19 to 22C. Occasional showers for the Low Countries, and some outbreaks of rain for central & northern Germany, although mainly dry toward the south and the Czech Republic. Some rain in Poland and Baltic areas. Showery for much of Scandinavia, but sunny spells too.

Friday
Overnight into Friday a band of heavy rain will spread across southern France into the western Alps, and increasingly eastwards across southern Germany, also reaching northern Italy. Through the day, thundery rain will advance into Austria and also Poland, whilst rain will persist across northern Italy.
High pressure will extend from the Azores into Biscay, producing a north-easterly breeze across northern Iberia. A hot day for south-western Spain and Portugal, highs 35 to 40C inland. Dry overall for Iberia and much of the Mediterranean. Plenty of hot sunshine for Greece and south-eastern Europe as a whole as high pressure influences the region.
An improving day across France, warm in the south, fresher in the north, and plenty of sunshine is likely across the country. Sunshine and showers for the Low Countries. Low pressure continues to reside over Scandinavia bringing showers or longer periods of rain to Norway and Sweden, although northern areas may be brighter. Showers too for Finland. Heavy rain spreads from the south-west into the Baltic states later.