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Weather tracker: Cold spells in Greece and Turkey, and storms in Bangladesh
TL;DR
Greece and Turkey are experiencing a late-season cold spell with temperatures significantly below average, while heavy rain and gale-force winds impact the region. In contrast, Central Europe is enjoying unseasonably warm weather, particularly in Poland, before a cold front arrives midweek.
Key points
- Greece and Turkey facing a late-season cold spell
- Temperatures well below average for early May
- Heavy rain and gale-force winds impacting Greece
- Central Europe enjoying early-summer heat
- Cold front expected to bring thunderstorms to Central Europe
Mentioned in this story
GreeceTurkeyCentral EuropePolandAnkaraAthens
Greece and Turkey have found themselves in the grip of a late-season cold spell this weekend. Conditions will persist over the next few days as an area of low pressure situated over Turkey is pulling in colder, moisture-laden air from the north-east via the Black Sea; this meteorological set up has suppressed temperatures well below where they should be for the time of year. Away from the Mediterranean coast, much of Turkey struggled to reach double figures, which is around 10C below the average, while Greece saw a similar chill. In Athens, temperatures only crept into the low teens Celsius, a far cry from the mid-20s typically expected in early May.
But they haven’t just faced cold. Greece had gale force winds whipping through the islands in the South Aegean – gusting around 60mph on Sunday evening, and the unsettled weather has brought a surge of heavy rain to Turkey. The Central Anatolia region of Turkey would normally see about 50mm of rainfall across the entire month of May, but on Sunday had already seen many areas pick up half that total in just 24 hours. With colder air in place, higher elevations have even seen a return to winter, with up to 30cm of fresh snow forecast across the Anti-Taurus Mountains on Monday and Tuesday. In Ankara, temperatures on Monday 4th are expected to peak at just 7C – nearly 14C below average – before slowly edging back towards normal by the weekend.
Meanwhile, it’s a very different story farther north. Central Europe is enjoying a burst of early-summer season heat, with temperatures widely running around 10C above the average for early May. Poland particularly stands out, with Warsaw forecast to reach just shy of 31C on Tuesday – around 12C above its usual 19C. Katowice is close behind, with a forecast high of 29C on Tuesday too. However, this early taste of summer won’t last long – a cold front is set to sweep in from the north by midweek, bringing the heat to an abrupt and potentially electrifying end in the form of thunderstorms.
Tourists taking shelter under sheets during rainfall as they waited to attend evening prayers at Dashashwamedh ghat along the banks of river Ganges in Varanasi, India on Wednesday. Photograph: Niharika Kulkarni/AFP/Getty Images
Q&A
What temperatures are Greece and Turkey experiencing during the cold spell?
Temperatures in Greece and Turkey are around 10C below average, with Athens reaching only the low teens Celsius and Ankara peaking at just 7C.
How much rainfall has Turkey received during this cold spell?
Turkey's Central Anatolia region received about half of its typical monthly rainfall total of 50mm in just 24 hours due to the unsettled weather.
What weather conditions are affecting Central Europe this week?
Central Europe is experiencing a burst of early-summer heat, with temperatures in Poland reaching around 10C above average, but a cold front and thunderstorms are expected to arrive midweek.
