Issued: 0530hrs Friday 26th August 2016
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Windy and unsettled northern Scandinavia

Friday
Hot weather continues across western Europe, whilst much of the continent will be dry under the influence of slack high pressure. Isolated thundery showers possible for Spain, mainly toward the north, otherwise most of Iberia will be dry, temperatures reaching 33 to 38C inland, highest in the south. Generally dry and very warm across the Mediterranean, including Italy and Greece . Breezy around the Aegean Sea.
Hot and dry across France, highs 34 to 38C, highest west. Chance of a shower around Brittany. Isolated thunderstorms later for Switzerland. Dry for central & eastern Europe, temperatures in Germany reaching 30 to 33C. Around 27 to 31C in Poland, Hungary & Romania. Low pressure brings a strong breeze to southern Scandinavia. Very warm for southern Sweden, 27C. Cooler further north, and persistent heavy rain is expected for Norway and central Sweden, advancing north, and drifting east toward Finland. Dry and fresh in the far north.

Saturday
A hot day across much of continental Europe. Many areas will be dry. Temperatures ranging from 30C in Germany and Poland, 33 to 37C for France, Italy and much of Iberia, locally 40C in southern Spain. A northerly breeze for Portugal. Light winds and lots of sunshine across the Mediterranean.
Scattered thunderstorms are likely across the Alps, mainly Switzerland and western Austria. Risk of some rain for northern France and coastal parts of the Low Countries as a shallow area of low pressure and warm front drifts north. A fair day with pleasant temperatures for Denmark and southern Scandinavia, 22C. Rain spreads across northern Scandinavia in the early hours, clearing from the south, leaving dry conditions into the daytime, although rather breezy, easing slowly. Showers for western Norway. Risk of gales around the northern Baltic.