Disruptive snow spreads to Poland and Baltic states

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The first widespread snow of the season for Europe will continue to spread from Austria to Poland and the Baltic States to end this week.

After whitening Vienna on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, snow will continue to spread northward to Warsaw, Vilnius and Riga into Friday morning.

The heaviest snow into Thursday evening is expected across central and eastern Poland, including Warsaw. These areas may receive 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) with localized amounts to 20 cm (8 inches).

The exception will be along the coast of the Baltic Sea, where the warmer air from the water will lead to more rain than wet snow.

Rain may briefly mix with the snow in Warsaw with a higher chance for this to occur toward the Ukraine border.

Snow is also expected to mix with or change to rain across the eastern Baltic States but not before threatening to create slippery travel. This includes in Vilnius and Riga.

Snowfall totals across the Baltic States should generally be held to 2-8 cm (1-3 inches) with the highest amounts across western areas, where snow will persist the longest.

The snow can lead to delays to travel and school on Friday morning in Klaipėda, Lithuania.

Snow will continue to fall across southern Finland on Friday with rain and snow showers expected across the Baltic states.

"The snow in southern Finland is expected to accumulate between 8 and 15 cm (3 and 6 inches)," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

Cold air will remain over central and eastern Europe this weekend, continuing the threat for slick roadways, especially at night as temperatures fall below freezing away from coastal areas.