Issued: 0530hrs Tuesday 1st January 2008
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
Rain in the southeast, but dry through much of central Europe
New Year's Day
Periods of showers affecting the west of Portugal through today. Much of Spain is going to be dry with some sunshine, and this fine weather extending through the Balearic Islands as well. Much of France starts the day with a slight frost, but then the weather will be fine with some sunshine. More cloud for the Low Countries with a chance of some drizzle on the coasts. For Germany the day should be fine, although some frost at first. Cloud could affect Poland with a chance of a snow flurry here and there. Fine through Austria and Hungary with more sunshine and an early frost, this dry weather extends into Switzerland as well.
For Italy the day should be staying fair. More sunshine here, the best of it to the west. Further south low pressure over southern Greece brings some spots of rain, with heavier rain for the west of Turkey. Unsettled through Bulgaria and Romania with some showers here.
Fair weather through the Baltic States, although a risk of some morning snow showers. Some showers across inland as well, with more persistent snow showers and fresh winds bringing very cold weather through Sweden. Over much of Denmark and Norway the weather will be cold but generally dry.
Wednesday
Low pressure takes control of the weather through the west of Europe, with higher pressure conditions to the east. There will be breezy weather and a band of rain spreading through Portugal, into Spain and France. Most of Spain and Portugal then becoming drier, although showers continue to affect the north.
For the Low Countries, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary and Switzerland the day is going to become much colder in a brisk east or southeast wind. It should be dry overall, but will be feeling very cold.
Showers in parts of western Italy, but the east should be drier with some sunshine. Fair too across Greece, but cloud and periods of rain to come through western Turkey. A few snow showers through Bulgaria and Greece, some heavy.
Very cold and windy across the Baltic States and Finland, as well as Sweden with some snow showers here, although these only light. Very cold again across Denmark and Norway, breezy too.