During Wednesday, a depression will form over northern Italy at the interface of cold arctic and warm Mediterranean air. The storm has been named Deborah and will begin to move over the Adriatic and the Balkans in the coming days.
The strongest impacts are expected in the Western Balkans. In lower areas there is a risk of intense downpours with totals of up to 100 mm and the risk of flash floods. In coastal areas and islands, a strong bora, a gusty wind blowing from the mountains, with gusts of up to 110 km/h will be added.
Heavy snowfall is expected in the Dinaric Alps area. The snow line will be between 500 and 700 meters above sea level, but it can also snow at lower altitudes. Significant traffic complications can be expected especially in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Snowfall estimates vary between models, but on average around 50 centimeters should fall between Wednesday and Saturday. On the windward sides of the mountains, totals can be significantly higher and some models allow up to a meter and a half of snow.
Snow covers Europe
A large amount of snow will also fall in the Alps. Especially in Austria, from the Dachstein region to the Vienna Forest, over a meter of snow can fall. Significant snowfall is also expected in other parts of the mountain range.
A very interesting situation will occur on the eastern edge of the Alps, where a continuous snow cover can form even at lower altitudes. This applies in particular to eastern Austria, western Slovakia and Hungary. Over 20 centimeters of snow can fall in Vienna.
Live: Current footage from Austria and Italy 25/03/2026Video: Panomax GmbH
The snowfall will also affect other parts of Europe – the British Isles, northern Spain, the Pyrenees, Benelux, eastern France and western Germany. Snow will also appear in the higher elevations of central Italy, in Corsica, Sardinia and in the south of the Balkan Peninsula as far as Greece.
It will also snow in the Czech Republic, especially in Moravia and Silesia from about 500 meters above sea level. Up to 20 centimeters of snow may fall in affected areas, and up to half a meter in some parts of the Beskydy Mountains.
In addition, the models indicate more snow in the mountain areas in the next week as well. The current cooling is related to the intrusion of Arctic air, which is the result of the breakup of the polar vortex at the beginning of March.
