Czech weather turns chilly before possible warm spell this weekend

People across Czechia will need a jacket for much of this week, with daytime temperatures falling well below 20 degrees Celsius after a cold front crossed the country Sunday. Rain and a brisk northwest wind will add to the chill Monday and Tuesday.

The shift may be short-lived. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) says clearer skies and warmer afternoons could arrive this weekend, though the outlook remains uncertain.

The cold front brought the heaviest rain to northern Bohemia. Labská bouda in the Krkonoše mountains recorded 37.6 millimeters of rain in 24 hours, according to ČHMÚ measurements. Much of the country received between 3 and 15 millimeters, while parts of southern and central Moravia received little or none.

Monday and Tuesday will be mostly cloudy, with occasional rain most likely in the north and east. Daytime highs will generally range from 12 to 17 degrees, though southern Moravia could reach 18 degrees Monday. Wind gusts of up to 55 kilometers per hour will make it feel colder.

Skies should begin to clear Wednesday according to the ČHMÚ, although showers may linger in the Jeseníky and Beskydy mountains during the morning. Temperatures could reach 19 degrees in the afternoon, but clearer skies and lighter winds may bring frost at ground level overnight.

Similar frosty conditions are possible early Thursday. Clouds will increase from the west, with rain or showers expected mainly in Bohemia before easing in the evening. Daytime temperatures could reach 20 degrees.

On Friday, showers may continue in the north and northeast before the weather begins to settle. Highs are forecast to reach about 19 degrees, leaving a cool end to the working week.

ČHMÚ says the weekend could bring babí léto (literally 'granny summer'), the Czech term for a spell of mild, sunny weather in early autumn sometimes called 'Indian summer' in English.

The forecast points to partly cloudy or clear skies and afternoon temperatures rising above 20 degrees in some areas. Temperatures could climb to 25 degrees as the warmer weather develops.

Early mornings may still feel distinctly autumnal. Ground frost and isolated fog remain possible even if afternoons turn warm, creating a sharp difference between conditions at the start and end of the day.

Meteorologists stress that the weekend forecast could change. Anyone making outdoor plans should check an updated forecast later in the week.