Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 18th October 2018
Duty forecaster: Claire Darbinyan

Sunny spells with a chance of showers for much of Europe, thundery outbreaks for the western Mediterranean


Thursday
A pair of low pressure systems over the western Mediterranean which have been "cut off" from the jet stream will bring powerful thunderstorms and a risk of flash flooding to Portugal, southern, western and eastern portions of Spain, Sicily and Sardinia. Highs will range from 17 to 23C. Italy and the Balkans will also experience some isolated showers although these are not expected to be as heavy. Much of Greece will see a warm, dry day while further east a band of cloud will move eastward across Turkey bringing some heavy showers. Highs will reach 33C in southern coastal regions of Turkey.
Largely fine and dry conditions are expected across France while Benelux, Germany,the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary will experience a cloudier day with a chance of showers developing in the afternoon.
A band of rain will clear eastern Sweden and southern Finland during the morning leaving a dry and bright day for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. A band of cloud will push into western Norway later in the afternoon.

Friday
Thunderstorms and heavy rain continue for eastern Spain and the Balearics as the cut-off low pressure system continues to swirl over the Balearic Sea. The risk of flash flooding remains through Friday. Western Italy will be dry, sunny and warm while eastern Italy will be cloudy for most of the day. Highs will range from 20 to 27C. Sunny spells with a chance of showers for the Balkans and Greece while Turkey will be mostly cloudy with showers.
Sunny spells and largely dry for France, the Low Countries, Germany and Poland though a band of cloud will move into northwestern areas through the evening. Highs will range from 17C in northwestern France to 25C in the south and from 13C in the north of Germany to 22C in the south. Increasing cloud cover further east through Slovakia, Hungary and Romania with heavy showers possible.
Cloudy for Denmark, Norway and Sweden on Friday with rain pushing into western Norway through the afternoon and evening.