Colder, Snowier Conditions Coming to Europe

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

January 12,2013; 9:21PM,EST

While no powerhouse storms or severe cold is aiming for Europe over the next week, the weather will turn moderately cold and unsettled.
Colder air will push southward and westward over the region as a series of storms rolls in from the North Atlantic. The storms will dive southeastward toward the Mediterranean Sea and then northeastward the Balkans and into Ukraine and southern Russia.
According to World Weather Expert Jim Andrews, "Snow cover over Europe, which has shrunk markedly amidst mild weather during late December into the first part of January, is poised to grow westward and southward over the next week or so."

Rounds of snow are forecast for the Pyrenees, Alps and other mountains as well as some low-lying locations and perhaps near sea level over the next week. (Photos.com image)

Only light to moderate snowfall is projected outside of mountainous and hilly areas.
One fairly strong storm will drop southward over the western Mediterranean Sea early next week, causing very unsettled conditions from Spain to Italy and the Balkans for much of the week.

"Part of the Alps, the Pyrenees and ranges of the Balkan Peninsula could be subject to heavy snowfall and disruptions to travel," Andrews said.
According to World Weather Expert Jason Nicholls, "Snow will fall in the mountains over Italy next week, and there's a slight chance snow tries to mix in over some low elevations, including perhaps Rome."
Some snow could mix in with the rain around London Monday night and some snow showers are possible Wednesday into Thursday as additional modest storms come calling.
Some snow could brush part of northern Africa as well.
"There is a chance of some snow in the northern parts of Algeria and Tunisia Monday into Tuesday," Nicholls added.
Temperatures have been running rather warm across much of central and western Europe this month.
In Berlin temperatures have averaged close to 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) above normal. Temperatures in Paris have been averaging about 6 degrees above normal during the first 10 days of January. In London, temperatures have averaged about 5 degrees above normal through January 10.
Farther east the weather has been colder and in some cases quite snowy.
Rome has been experiencing near-normal temperatures with more significant cold over Greece.
In parts of the Middle East, snow fell recently.

From interior, higher elevation locations of Lebanon and Israel (including Jerusalem and Palestine) to Syria and northern Jordan several inches of snow fell during the second half of this past week. Amman, Jordan experienced a thunderstorm with the snow.

With the storms dipping toward the Mediterranean and then swinging up toward the Balkans, no more snow is in the offing during the near future for areas in the Middle East that recently received snow. Instead, warmer air will flow in south of the storm track.