Issued: 0530hrs Tuesday 24th March 2009
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

A typical spring situation of mixed weather across the Continent

Tuesday
A fair day for most of Spain and Portugal with some spells of sunshine. There will be broken cloud to the south, and the threat of some rain affecting northern areas in the afternoon. This band of rain will stretch across the Mediterranean to central and northern Italy where it will bring cold and unsettled conditions. Southern Italy should be brighter and warmer as well as being dry.
For Greece, Cyprus and Turkey the day is likely to be dry throughout. There will be plenty of sunshine through the day and it is going to be staying warm. Crete is likely to be warm and sunny too. To the north Bulgaria and Romania will have some sunshine, although showery rain could affect the west later.
The more unsettled weather of the day is reserved for central and northern parts of Europe. Have said that there should be some sunshine through the British Isles and France. However, for the Low Countries and Germany the day will be cold and unsettled with heavy showers. These heavy showers will be affecting Poland too, and it will be windy and cold here as the showers turn increasingly to sleet and snow. The wintry showers affecting the Baltic States as well.
For Finland it should be a dry day with good spells of sunshine as high pressure builds. A few wintry flurries over eastern Sweden, but dry and sunny to the west. A fair day for Norway as well with some sunshine to come here and dry conditions too.

Wednesday
Dry weather will be holding on through all parts of Spain and Portugal today, this spreading to the Balearic Islands too. Much of Italy is going to be under the influence of the fine weather with some sunny spells to come here. There could be some rain through the far south of Italy, and this rain is going to be heavier and more persistent over Greece. Turkey should be fair, as will be Cyprus with some sunshine here.
To the north a deep area of low pressure will bring rain through France, the Low Countries and Germany, together with strong winds. This rain is going to be followed by heavy showers moving in from the west. The rain and showers will reach Poland too where it will be wet in the west after a bright and dry start. This cloud and showery rain spreads to Austria, Hungary and Switzerland in the afternoon.
A more unsettled day to come for the Baltic States and Finland where low pressure may bring some cloud and a few wintry showers. These falling over the north of Sweden too, whilst southern Sweden should be dry. Cloud, wind and rain reach Denmark and southern Norway in the afternoon.