Week Starts Wet, Wintry and Cold in Western Europe

By Adam Douty, Meteorologist

January 18,2015; 10:24PM,EST

 

 

To begin the workweek, a deep trough of low pressure across western Europe will keep the region unsettled with areas of rain and mountains snow. While Spain will see the most widespread precipitation on Monday, rain and snow will fall in portions of France as well.
As this disturbance gradually moves to the east through the day, drier air will move into Portugal and western Spain bringing an end to the rain and allowing for a few breaks of sunshine as well. The morning commute will be chilly and damp in Madrid, Spain, but by the drive home in the evening, dry conditions are expected.
The dry conditions, however, will be short-lived as the next front will already be approaching from the Atlantic.

Rain will fall throughout the day along the Spain and France Mediterranean Coasts. Valencia and Barcelona, Spain along with Montpellier, France will be a few cities to see the wet weather.
As the cold air remains across the region snow will continue to fall across the higher terrain. The Pyrenees Mountains along the France and Spain boarder will likely be the hardest hit by snow with snow on Monday in excess of 15 cm (6 inches) above 1000 meters (3300 feet). Even the highest peak, above 1500 meters (5000 feet), in southern Spain can see snow.
Snow will also fall in southern France above 1000 meters (3300 feet) across the Massif Central.
Not only will rain and snow bring impacts across western Europe, a gusty wind will blow from the north making the already chilly temperatures feel even colder. In Barcelona, temperatures will barely manage to reach 10 C (50 F), but with damp and breezy conditions, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be held near 7 C (middle 40s F).
RELATED:
AccuWeather.com Forecast for Madrid, Spain
European Weather Center at AccuWeather.com
Western Europe Radar
As this disturbance moves into the Mediterranean during the middle of the week it will bring unsettled conditions to central Europe. While more seasonable air will return to western Europe during this time, showers will continue to affect the region as a cold front dives south from the northern Atlantic.