Spring on hold as chill descends on northern Europe

Residents may feel like the calendar has flipped back to March across northern Europe as Arctic air puts April warmth on hold into this weekend.

The biggest shock has been felt from the Netherlands to Poland, where temperatures soared well above normal prior to the arrival of the cold air.

After temperatures rose to near 21 C (70 F) on Monday, Friday marked the third consecutive day of temperatures being held at or below 10 C (50 F) in Amsterdam and Berlin. In Warsaw, temperatures have not climbed above 10 C (50 F) since Monday.

Saturday will bring another day of similar temperatures as the coldest air remains entrenched over the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Poland.

The chilly air will continue to expand across the United Kingdom and France into this weekend. A high around 13 C (56 F) on Thursday in Paris will be replaced by temperatures failing to exceed 10 C (50 F) on Saturday. Temperatures will also fall just shy of 10 C (50 F) in London this weekend.

High temperatures normally range from 10-15 C (50-58 F) in mid-April from the U.K. to Poland.

While largely dry weather is expected amid this chilly snap, a few showers will spread from Poland, Denmark and Germany to northeastern France into Saturday night. An odd shower may also spread into southeastern England.

"Snow or snow pellets may mix in, mainly from northern Germany to the Netherlands and Belgium," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. "Snow would be more likely during but not limited to the nighttime and morning hours."

However, no lasting accumulation is expected.

The chill will gradually ease from east to west Sunday into Monday.

"Later next week will feature a turn to much milder weather across northern Europe, just in time for the start of the Easter holiday weekend," Pydynowski said.

Download the free AccuWeather app to monitor the changes in temperatures in your area.

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