Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 8th February 2007
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
Rain for much of the north and west
Today
Heavy periods of rain and showers over western and southern parts of France. Rain too edging into the south of England. More rain to come over the north of Spain, but for most of Spain and Portugal the day should be fine with some good spells of sunshine.
Showers in southern Italy, although dry with sunny spells to the north. There will be further rain and showers for much of Austria, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, western Greece and the western parts of Turkey. A few showers too in Poland, the Ukraine and Belarus.
Drier weather over much of Scandinavia and western Russia. Here it is going to be very cold with temperatures in Moscow not rising above -15C.
Friday
Showers for most of France on Friday. The heaviest of these, merging into more persistent rain and mixed with strong winds, crossing southern France and moving into Italy in the afternoon. The former Yugoslavia will be generally dry with sunny spells, as will be much of Greece, although showers are likely in the west. Showers too in southern Turkey, these extending into Cyprus and Israel.
Most of Spain and Portugal should be dry, although rain could affect the far northwest of Iberia this afternoon.
Dry for most of Germany, Poland and the central European states. A few showers are likely in northern Germany, this into Denmark in the afternoon, with light snow for the south of Norway. Over much of the rest of Norway, Sweden, the Baltic States and Finland the day should be fine but cold. Staying cold in the west of Russia too.