Weather report - Monte Carlo Rally.

The World Rally Championship kicks off this weekend with the traditional opening round in Monte Carlo. Although all crews head to the Med with some idea that the weather will be playing tricks on them, here is the definitive guide to what lies in store.

The French Alps frequently throw up a mix of wet, dry and downright cold conditions, with ice and snow a distinct possibility in January. What follows, however, is a provisional forecast, and the patterns may change slightly as the weekend progresses...

Monaco - Monte Carlo

Friday
Mainly dry for the whole day with a five per cent risk of an afternoon rain shower. Sunshine will help lift the temperatures to a high of 14C / 56F around sea level, although somewhat cooler around hills and mountainous regions, between 6C / 40F and 10C / 48F as a maximum daily. There will be a light south to south-westerly breeze. Overnight temperatures will drop to below freezing, leading to both a ground and air frost, with a lowest temperature of -1C / 25F.

Saturday
Mainly dry and fine yet again, with plenty of sunshine as high pressure continues to build, although there is an increasing threat of showers moving up from the south out of the Mediterranean Sea. Slightly cooler than Friday, with highs of 12C / 52F at sea level, 5C / 38F to 9C / 46F at higher altitudes. Again, there will be a light south to south-westerly breeze with another frost likely overnight.

Sunday
A repeat performance, with plenty of fine weather with a low risk of an afternoon rain shower. A light southerly breeze. Cooler still with temperatures at sea level hitting a high of 10C / 48F, 4C / 36F to 8C / 44F at higher altitudes.

All forecasts kindly provided by Martin Chuter CNS