Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 22nd July 2017
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

France improves Sunday; rain spreads north-east into Denmark & Poland

Saturday
Slack pressure across the continent, generally high toward the north and also the south-west, whilst low pressure is focused over Britain and north-west Europe. Staying hot and dry for south & south-eastern Europe, widely into the mid or upper 30s Celsius. Plenty of sunshine for Spain and Portugal, and the Mediterranean. A cold front across France triggers areas of thunderstorms. Low pressure over the British Isles triggers showery conditions for northern France and the Low Countries. Some thundery rain for Germany and the Alps, highs 24 to 27C. Largely dry for eastern Europe, although a zone of rain is likely to affect Ukraine. Hot for Hungary and the Balkans, 33 to 37C. Much of Scandinavia remains dry, although showers possible over the mountains of Norway. Warm for southern Sweden, 25C. Showers breaking out for Finland.

Sunday
A breezy day for Portugal, and the airflow from the interior of Spain will push temperatures into the upper 30s Celsius for Andalucia and the Algarve. Local afternoon thunderstorms for north-east Spain. High pressure builds from the west across France, bringing a fair and fresh day as a cold front clears eastwards, highs 19 to 24C, but up to 30C on the south coast of France. A few showers for northern France and the Low Countries. A belt of rain and possible thunder spreads across Germany into southern Scandinavia and Poland. Some storms breaking out for the Alps and central-eastern Europe, whilst southern Europe stays hot and dry, highs into the mid-high 30s Celsius for Greece and the Balkans. Warm for southern Sweden at 25C. Some rain for central Finland. Dry in the far north.