Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 21st February 2007
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
Very cold in the east with snow and frost. Milder west.
Today
An area of rain affecting much of eastern Spain and central France today, most of it light and patchy. Elsewhere through Spain, Portugal and France the day should be dry with bright spells. The band of rain will also be affecting the Low Countries where it may become heavy, before passing into Denmark and southern parts of Sweden and Norway as snow. Very windy through these Scandinavian areas too, with blizzards in places.
High pressure will be keeping the weather very cold across the rest of Sweden, Norway and Finland as well as much of western Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland.
Back south and a few showers in Italy, whilst much of the former Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey should be staying dry.
Thursday
Rain passing through the UK and Ireland and also through much of northern and western parts of France. The rain affects northwest Portugal and northwestern Spain too. Over central France there will be a few showers, but for the south and east of France it should be dry with some sunny spells.
A few showers in the Balearics, these also affecting Italy, Sicily, the former Yugoslavia and western parts of Greece. For Turkey the day is going to be dry with sunny spells, these lasting throughout the day.
Northern parts of Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Bratislava and Germany are going to be dry, although there could be some morning mist and fog patches. Rain and snow for Poland, this turning completely to snow over Belarus and the Ukraine. Further outbreaks of snow for Denmark and southern parts of Norway where it is going to be staying breezy.
For the rest of Norway and Sweden as well as Finland the day should be very cold with a risk of a few snow flurries, but it will be largely dry.