Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 28th February 2007
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Heavy rain and strong winds for many northern areas

Today
Low pressure will be centred to the north of Scotland through the day and it is going to be windy too. Winds could be to severe gale force across the northern UK. Heavy periods of rain in the northern UK too, and these also through southern Norway, southern Sweden and Denmark. The rain band extends into Poland, although turns to snow through the Baltic States and eastern Poland. Rain also troubles Austria, Bratislava and Hungary, bringing a wet day here.
Heavy, blustery showers through Germany and the Low Countries, these reaching Switzerland too. France is going to have a showery day with the showers merging to longer spells of rain at times. Far southern coasts of France could stay dry with some sunny spells.
To the south most of Portugal and Spain should be dry, although a few showers cannot be ruled out on the west coast of Portugal and the north coast of Spain. For the central parts of the Mediterranean it will be dry with sunny spells. This dry weather affecting the Balearics, Italy and much of the former Yugoslavia. Greece and Crete stay dry too in sunny spells. For Turkey the day will be more unsettled with showers here, some heavy and falling as snow on the hills. Cyprus also has showers, but Israel and the near east is likely to be staying dry.

Thursday
Low pressure into the west of Scandinavia through the course of Thursday. This is going to be bringing rain, sleet and snow to much of western Norway and Sweden. Further rain and sleet through Denmark.
A heavy band of rain extends through Poland and into the Czech Republic. This band of rain can be traced back through Germany and into the central parts of France. Again, some of this is likely to be heavy and may lead to local flooding in places. To the north the UK will have a brighter but cooler day with sunny spells and scattered showers.
For Portugal and Spain the day should be staying dry with sunshine, the best of this to the south. More sunshine to come for southern France and the Balearics, whilst Italy should be staying fair too with more sunny spells to come here.
A few showers in western parts of the former Yugoslavia, but much of the Balkans should be staying dry and bright. Greece and Turkey will have a dry day with sunny spells.