Cold weather continues south across Europe by Steph Ball
A plunge of cold Arctic air continues to head south across Europe bringing freezing temperatures and snow falls.
For the UK the first signs of the cold weather were across Scotland on Friday, with snow showers affecting northern and eastern areas. Over the weekend the cold took hold, particularly over Saturday night and early Sunday, with an Atlantic weather front moving in from the west prompting warnings of snow and black ice.
Sweden, Finland and Russia, were also hit by the cold northerly winds. A blanket of snow forced runway closures at Helsinki and Stockholm airports, while thousands of residents were left without power.
The winter weather also spread south across France and the Netherlands, and arrived in northern Spain on Monday. Six provinces across the north of the country were put on alert for snow and freezing temperatures. Cantabria and Asturias remain on orange alert today, with up to 15cm (6 inches) of snow forecast.
Snow has arrived early across Europe this year prompting many ski resorts to open earlier than scheduled. Even across southern Spain, the Sierra Nevada resort has opened early for the first time in 20 years.
While the cold weather will continue south across Spain over the next few days, the UK will see temperatures slowly creeping up. Atlantic weather fronts pushing across the UK from the northwest are expected to introduce some milder conditions.
|
|
