Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 30th May 2018
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Largely dry north and eastern Europe, also southern Spain

Wednesday
Very little change to recent days. Shallow slow moving low pressure over western Europe maintains heat, humidity and the scope for violent thundery downpours. Temperatures widely into the mid to high 20s Celsius, or locally 30C across the heart of the continent, including southern Scandinavia. The south of Spain and also Portugal should escape dry with lots of sunshine. However, a swathe from northern Spain, across much of France, the Alps, Low Countries and northern Germany are all at risk of torrential rainstorms and frequent lightning. Clusters of thundery showers too for the spine of Italy and the Balkans.
Meanwhile, eastern Europe and Scandinavia will be largely dry beneath generally high pressure which is centred toward the north. Lots of sunshine for much of Norway, with warmest temperatures toward the south and west. Sweden likely to reach 30C in the south. A east to north-easterly breeze around the Baltic.

Thursday
More of the same across Europe, with thundery conditions across France, the Alps and Germany. Scattered thunderstorms for the south of Italy and the Balkans. Much of the Mediterranean will be dry. Thunderstorms affects northern Spain, most widely by afternoon, whilst the south of Spain and most of Portugal stays dry and sunny.
A few showers for mainland Greece , but the Greek islands should stay dry. Black Sea regions will also be dry and sunny. Most of east and northern Europe will stay dry and very warm thanks to continued high pressure centred over Scandinavia. Temperatures widely reaching the upper 20s Celsius or topping 30C for some. Chance of an isolated thunderstorm over the mountains of Norway.