Cosy versus wintry: Big contrast in Europe's spring weather

Europe is currently a tale of two extremes: bright and sunny from the Mediterranean to England with highs ranging from 18 to 25 °C, however Northern Europe remains significantly colder and wintry.

In Scandinavia, late winter is making a comeback. From Friday onwards, there will be prolonged snowfall in northern Norway as far as Lapland. By Sunday, snowflakes are possible as far as the Baltic states.

There will be plenty of fresh snow, particularly in the Norwegian mountains. In areas affected by wind-driven snow, up to half a metre is expected over the weekend, whilst elsewhere the snowfall will be more in the region of 5 to 20 centimetres. Further south, it will often remain wet with rain or sleet.

A look at the broader weather picture explains the contrasting conditions: a low-pressure system over north-eastern Europe is pushing cold polar air towards Ukraine until the weekend.

As a result, temperatures will drop noticeably in Poland and the Baltic states. At the same time, warm air is flowing in from the south-west as far as Central Europe.