Weather in Summer 2008
We're heading for another “typical British summer” according to the Met Office's long-range forecast. Which means there's a lot more damp and dull weather on the way. To stand any chance of getting a decent tan, you're going to have to flea these wretched shores and head for warmer climes. So where is the sun guaranteed to shine this summer? Temperature charts in holiday brochures will only give you typical temperatures for a destination, but we found out from meteorologists what the weather is likely to be like across Europe over the next 3 months.
France:
Yes, there's a good chance it will be warmer here than last year, but you'll have to head quite far south if you don't want to get soggy. According to the Met Office, there is the risk of more “unsettled spells than usual” in the more northern parts of the country, which are likely to get average or above-average rainfall. So that rules out Brittany then. The first half of July and the first half of August are likely to get the best weather, with conditions becoming less settled in the second half.
Travel right down to the Mediterranean coast and you should get sunshine and warm weather throughout the whole summer. As we write, it's only a mild 20 degrees centigrade in Brittany — pretty much the same as in the southeast of England — but a blissful 33 degrees in Marseille on the Med.
Greece & Turkey
Hurrah! Temperatures in the southern and Eastern Med are likely to be higher than average this summer which is excellent news — although there is a danger that Greece and Turkey might be too hot this year. It's likely to be a scorcher in Turkey, where the temperatures in the coastal resorts have already reached almost 40 degrees centigrade. On mainland Greece, the mercury is nudging the mid-30s. If you're worried you might overheat, the southern Greek islands, including Rhodes and Crete, might be a safer option as they are likely to be considerably cooler.
Italy, Spain & Portugal
Don't hold us to this but it looks as though you'll get plenty of sunshine and little rain in both countries this year. The same goes for Portugal. July is forecast to be warm and mostly dry while August will be even warmer and there's even less chance of rain. It's already well above 30 degrees on the Spanish costas and, if the forecasters are correct, the good weather will last.
Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden
You're probably not going to Scandinavia for a tan but you might want to get some sunshine. If so, you might want to think about going sooner rather than later — the best weather is expected to be in July with August becoming less settled, although temperatures are expected to be close to average, which means the mercury will be hovering around the high 60s.
Austria & Switzerland
This might not be the best year for a walking holiday in the Alps. So far it's been okay but temperatures are expected to drop in July and the weather will generally become less settled. In August the weather will be mixed with the chance of cloud and rain, especially in the first half of the month. Wait until the last couple of weeks or, even better, go somewhere else instead. And if you've already booked/bought your hiking boots, cross your fingers — or pack waterproofs.
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