A strong cold outbreak is underway across the east-central Europe and the Balkans this week, in response to a very powerful upper ridge and 1040+ mbar high-pressure system over northern half of Europe. The pattern also introduces a snowfall event over the Balkans where a deep upper low will maintain over the western part of peninsula for several days. Widespread snowfall is likely, resulting in 20-40 cm of new snow by Thursday, even more than 50 cm along the mountain ranges