Stubborn Clouds, Fog Spoil Northern Europe Dry Spell

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

February 11,2015; 9:54PM,EST

 

 

Northern Europe is welcoming a break from rain and wind storms, but stubborn clouds and fog are spoiling the dry spell for many.
A large dome of high pressure currently encompasses northern Europe and is blocking the arrival of storms from the Atlantic.
Abundant sunshine and dry weather typically unfold when high pressure is in control. However, when low-level moisture lingers and gets trapped in the lowest levels of the atmosphere, low clouds and fog can form and may be slow to break in some cases.
That is exactly what has happened across northern Europe, preventing residents from Dublin, Ireland, to London, England, to Berlin, Germany, to Warsaw, Poland, to Budapest, Hungary, from enjoying much in the way of sunshine.
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The fog will be on its way out Thursday across western Europe as high pressure pushes off to the east. However, eastern Europe will continue to deal with low clouds.

"Through at least Friday, the clouds and fog will be over Hungary and surrounding areas."
Worse than being a disappointment to residents, the clouds will occasionally be accompanied by drizzle and fog. That is especially true in the late-night and morning hours and could cause travel disruptions (both on the ground and in the air) by reducing visibility.
Across the interior of mainland northern Europe, another danger will arise when temperatures dip below freezing and cause the drizzle or any dense fog to turn untreated surfaces slippery.
While an end to the stubborn low clouds and fog will come later this week and this weekend, the replacement will be a pair of storm systems limiting any sunshine across western Europe.
Berlin and Warsaw, however, will enjoy sunshine lasting into this weekend with the storms slow to press eastward.
Meteorologist Eric Leister contributed to this story.