Europe splits in two: late-summer warmth inland, Atlantic rain reaches the west

Europe has a clear weather divide on Sunday, 27 September 2026. High pressure dominates large parts of central Europe and the Alps, bringing sunshine and unusually warm late-September temperatures. Farther west, Atlantic weather becomes more active across the British Isles.

Central Europe and the Alps: sunny and very mild

Switzerland and Austria enjoy widespread sunshine. Swiss lowlands rise to roughly 24-29 °C after a cool morning, while Austria reaches 19-26 °C. The freezing level in the Swiss Alps is close to 4000 metres, and Austrian mountain temperatures reach roughly 10-16 °C at 2000 metres.

Germany: warm south and west, cloudier north

Germany ranges from about 17-22 °C near parts of the coast to 25-30 °C in the west, southwest and some inland areas. Most regions remain dry. Early fog is locally possible, while the north sees more cloud and a little more wind.

France: exceptional late-season heat

France is one of Europe’s warmest areas today. Météo-France expects 30-32 °C from the southwest toward the Grand Est, with isolated values near 34 °C. Much of the country stays sunny and dry.

Italy: settled under high pressure

Italy also remains largely dry and sunny. Typical afternoon values are around 22-28 °C, with only limited cloud near the Ionian side of Calabria and the southern Apennines. Northerly winds ease compared with Saturday.

British Isles: change arrives from the Atlantic

Southern and eastern England begin with sunny spells and mild temperatures. London reaches around 22-23 °C, but cloud increases and rain becomes more likely from late afternoon and evening. The Met Office expects wind and rain to spread in from the west during Sunday, while southern and eastern districts hold onto warmth for longer.

Practical outlook

For much of mainland central and southern Europe, Sunday is an excellent outdoor day, though the warmth is unusually strong for the time of year in France and parts of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the British Isles, plans later in the day should allow for increasing cloud, rain and wind from the west.