Cold wave to descend on Europe for the 1st weekend of May

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Air plunging southward from the Arctic will set the stage for a cold first weekend of May across much of northern Europe.

Locations from the United Kingdom to Germany, Poland and Scandinavia will all feel more like early April than early May.

The chill will initially be felt on Friday as cold northerly winds usher in the cold air from Scandinavia to the British Isles, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

High temperatures will fail to reach 10 C (50 F) throughout much of Scotland and northern England, as well as Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

High temperatures of 10-13 C (50-55 F) are expected throughout the remainder of the British Isles, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and northern Poland.

Along with gusty winds, which will make it feel even colder, showers will dampen the day throughout the entire region.

The core of the cold air will settle from Germany into the Alps, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary on Saturday and Sunday.

High temperatures will hover around 10 C (50 F) throughout the region, about 6-9 C (10-16 F) below normal for early May.

Showers and a couple of rumbles of thunder are possible from the Netherlands into Germany and northwest Poland on Saturday. A few showers can continue to dampen outdoor plans in these areas on Sunday.

"These showers and thunderstorms may produce small hail," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

A soaking rain will fall from the lower elevations of the Alps into Hungary, Slovakia and Poland from Saturday into Sunday, with snow possible in the highest elevations.

A plant-killing frost and freeze will also be a multi-night concern from the U.K. to Poland and the Baltic states.

Any outdoor plants or crops will be at risk as temperatures fall to or below freezing beginning on Friday night.

Coastal locations are likely to remain above freezing; however, areas just inland will not be immune from the risk.

"Any plants or crops that have began to bloom or flower will be at risk for damage due to the magnitude of this cold outbreak," said Roys.

"This will be the second year in a row that a cold outbreak has affected the growing season across northern Europe," added Roys.

The greatest risk for a frost or freeze will be Friday night and Saturday night across the U.K., while the risk will be highest on Saturday night and Sunday night from Germany into Slovakia and Poland.

The chill will linger across eastern Europe into next week; however, milder air will make a return from the British Isles to Germany, sending temperatures back to or above normal by Monday and Tuesday.

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