Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 17th October 2018
Duty forecaster: Claire Darbinyan

Dry and fine for much of Europe, thundery outbreaks for the western Mediterranean


Wednesday
A frontal system lies to the northwest of the Iberian peninsula bringing outbreaks of rain to western France.
, northwestern Spain and Portugal. There remains a risk of some locally heavy showers. Some showers may also develop over central and southern France. Thundery conditions are expected for the western Mediterranean, with torrential downpours for the Balearics, Corsica, Sardinia and Siciliy. Heavy bursts also affect mainland Italy. Much of southern Spain will be dry and warm, with highs of 25C. 
Generally warm for central Europe, widely into the low 20s Celsius for Germany and the Low Countries. Dry with some fog possible in the morning. High pressure lies over western Russia, keeping eastern Europe dry and warm. Temperatures will also widely reach into the low 20s Celsius in Romania and Hungary. Dry for Greece and the Balkans too.
Settled for southern Scandinavia and the Baltic coasts though a southwesterly breeze will affect Norway bring some rain to western and northern areas.

Thursday
An area of low pressure develops and deepens near the Strait of Gibraltar bringing heavy thundery outbreaks of rain to southern and eastern parts of Spain.
and the Balearics. Corsica and Sardinia will also experience some isolated showers. A few showers will affect central parts of Italy and Sicily but it should be mainly dry. Greece and the Balkans should be fine with plenty of sunshine although some showers may develop for Turkey.
Largely fine and dry conditions are expected across France, Benelux, GGermanyand the Czech Republic with some cloud over Poland, Slovakia and Hungary where a break develops in the high pressure ridge. The ridge re-establishes to the east bringing a warm, dry day for much of eastern Europe.
Sunny spells and dry in Denmark and southern parts of Norway and Sweden. The Baltic States will be largely dry though some showers may develop in the north. Outbreaks of rain are also expected for western Norway, northern Sweden and much of Finland.