Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 1st March 2007
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
Rain and strong winds...heavy rain central Europe
Today
Another unsettled day to come over most of Europe. Low pressure will be pushing fronts eastwards and these will be bringing rain through most of the western and central parts of France. The rain band extending through Germany and Switzerland, some of it heavy at times. Strong winds through central parts of Europe as well. More showery conditions are expected in northern France, the Low Countries and eventually Germany, although staying windy here.
To the north some rain and showers through the UK, with strong winds whilst Ireland will be drier with sunny spells. Rain too across southern Sweden and southern Norway as well as western Norway. An area of sleet and snow over central Sweden and into Finland and the Baltic States.
To the south, Portugal and Spain are both going to be dry with sunny spells, although a few showers could affect western coasts of Portugal. Through central parts of the Mediterranean, including southern coasts of France, the Balearics and Italy it should be dry too. This drier weather extending into the Former Yugoslavia and Greece. Southern Turkey stays dry and sunny, as will Crete and Cyprus, but the north of Turkey will have cloud and some rain.
Friday
Not much change through Friday. Cloud, rain and strong winds extending through much of the west and central parts of France, some of this heavy in places. There will be further heavy rain into Switzerland, and this extending through Austria and Hungary.
To the south of the rain band conditions are going to be mainly dry for Portugal and Spain. Dry too in the Balearics and southern France. There is a threat of some showery rain in the far north of Italy, but generally the country should be dry with more sunny spells. The dry weather extending into the former Yugoslavia and Greece. Northern Turkey again seeing some rain, whilst the south will be dry.
To the north low pressure will bring dry weather to southern Sweden and Denmark, although there could be a few showers. Showers too in western Norway. Heavy showers through Sweden and the Baltic States, together with Finland, where this will fall as snow.