Thursday brings a clear shift across central Europe. Early temperatures range roughly from 7 to 15°C across Germany, Switzerland and Austria, while southern Europe remains milder with many areas between 15 and 22°C. A cold front is moving eastwards, replacing the recent warmth with cooler maritime air.
Germany turns wet and windy from west to east, with the heaviest persistent rain near the Alpine edge. Switzerland sees widespread rain and a marked temperature drop, while Austria remains temporarily mild in the east before the front arrives. France improves from the west, but eastern regions and the Alps stay wet for longer. Italy remains unsettled, especially across the central and northern regions.
The Alps are the main snow zone
The snowline drops sharply across the northern and western Alps. In Switzerland it falls from around 2800 metres towards roughly 1500 to 2000 metres later in the day. In Austria the western mountains see the snowline fall towards 2000 metres by evening. In the French Alps snow can fall from around 1700 metres, while the German Alps become increasingly wintry above about 2000 metres.
The heaviest new snow is expected in the high Swiss Alps and northern Alpine sectors. Above 3000 metres, local totals of 30 to 50 centimetres are possible in Switzerland, while many other high Alpine areas see several to 20 centimetres depending on exposure and elevation.
Travellers crossing Alpine passes should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. Rain in the valleys can turn to sleet or snow at higher elevations, with poor visibility and strong winds making conditions more difficult by late afternoon and evening.