Weather in Europe: Heavy rain or snow, temperature drop, frost and strong winds in the middle of January
The combination of continuous low pressure systems from the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe and the strong westerly winds which bring arctic air masses are responsible for an unstable week with constant bands of rain or snow across much of Europe especially in central and northern Europe. Over the next few days we will feel a temperature drop which will be more intense with frost patches from Sunday and during the next week.
On Thursday and Friday, heavy rain or wintry showers are expected in much of central and northern Europe which will be more intense across the northwestern countries, especially the British Isles, the Low Countries and snow showers are expected across Scandinavia and the Baltic countries. On Thursday, a few scattered showers are also possible across southern Italy.
During the weekend, heavy rain or snow showers are expected across much of western and central Europe, while snow showers will fall over Scandinavia, the Alps and over low altitude across the Baltic states. On Sunday rain or showers are expected also across northern and central Italy, which will fall as snow until the 800-900 m over the Alps of northern Italy.
Accumulation rates could reach locally 130-140mm across western Europe (total accumulation rates of the next 10 days), while less elsewhere. Snow height will be around 90-120 cm (total accumulation snow rates of the next 10 days) across the Alps and western Scotland, while even more across the southwestern Norway.
Gradual temperature drop is expected from Sunday with maximum temperatures near 0C and minimum less or near freezing, from Tuesday to Thursday, across central and northern Europe. On Wednesday (18/01), in Paris minimum temperature will drop to -3C, in Luxembourg to -4C, while on Thursday (19/01) many cities across the Alps will drop to -10C to -18C (minimum temperature -10C to -13C in Bolzano) during the morning hours, while the maximum will be a few degrees below 0C.
Another characteristic during the next few days will be the strong winds which will be more intense across the British Isles, western France, the Low Countries southern Scandinavia where the wind gusts could reach 100-110km/h.