Severe storms heading for Europe

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Atlantic storms are pressing in towards western Europe bringing with them snow, blizzard conditions and later possible flooding as heavy rain thaws out frozen, low-lying ground.

New Year's Eve will see a deep depression moving across Ireland, Wales and England bringing severe gales and snow.

As it moves north-east snow and gales will also hit Scandinavia, northern Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and northern France.

Further south another storm will centre over Italy bringing wet and windy weather, said CNN weather anchor Femi Oke.

CNN weather observer Mark Dulmage based in the weather "frontline" of Westport on the west side of Ireland, said on Saturday high winds have brought two inches of snow there: "It is turning very ugly and is bitterly cold."

In Russia the freezing conditions have already caused 78 deaths.

UK Meteorology Office weatherman Roy O'Sullivan told CNN.com the next couple of days would be "unpleasant."

After a bright, cold start on New Year's Eve Britain would start to cloud over with the next Atlantic storm.

Because of the gale force winds snow would tend to drift, he said.

Milder weather is forecast to follow on New Year's Day bringing with it heavy rain which in turn would help thaw out frozen areas.

There is a risk of further flooding in Britain because the rain will eventually thaw the frozen ground, O'Sullivan said.

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UK Met Office
French Meteorological Office
National Severe Storms Laboratory
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts - ECMWF

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