Issued: 0530hrs Sunday 7th January 2007
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Heavy rains through north but far better south

Today
A wet day to come through much of Ireland and the southern UK, with rain also extending into northern France later. Gales affecting these regions too. Further cloud and rain pushing into Norway, Denmark and the northern coasts of Germany. The rest of Germany should be fair, as will be most of France. Another area of rain into Romania, Belarus and western Russia, where it will be mild. High pressure is going to be dominating the weather in the Mediterranean area, and this will be ensuring that conditions stay fine through much of Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Western Portugal may see some cloud and showers. Warm through the Mediterranean too.

Monday
Low pressure will be bringing more disturbed weather to the north on Monday. I think that a band of rain will extend through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Low Countries and much of France, ahead of yet more rain into Ireland and the southwest UK. Snow shower in the Alps, although east of the Alps into Austria, the Czech Republic and southern Poland it should be dry. The northern areas will be windy too with gales later in Ireland and western France. Rain too extends to northern Spain, but for most of the rest of Iberia, the Mediterranean, Italy and Greece the day should be dry with sunny spells. Watch for a risk of showers across northern Italy,. Corsica and Sardinia.