Issued: 0530hrs Friday 1st January 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Southern Europe begins 2010 with wind and rain, whilst the north if cold

New Year's Day
A breezy day through Spain and Portugal. Cloud and outbreaks of rain over the north of Spain turning to snow on the mountains. Breezy for the Balearics with broken cloud and sunshine. Cloud and rain in the south of France increasingly turning to sleet. A brighter day for the north of France with sunny spells here. Fair too for the Low Countries with some sunshine and a lovely day for northern Germany and Poland, although strong winds, cloud and rain affect the south. Plenty of cloud and some outbreaks of rain for Hungary and Austria as well as Switzerland.
Italy has low pressure dominating and this will bring windy weather to the southern half of the country. Lots of cloud and rain to the north, some heavy at times. A windy day through Greece and Turkey with sunny spells here. Cloud and some patchy rain in Bulgaria with sleet and snow affecting parts of Romania.
To the north the day will be fair for the Baltic States but very cold. Staying cold across Finland in a brisk east wind. A few snow showers for Sweden with Norway having a few heavier snow showers. fair and cool for Denmark with sunny spells here.

Saturday
Pressure builds through Portugal and Spain today and this brings a much better day; there will be sunny spells and dry weather for most. Cloud and some rain may affect the very far northwest of Iberia though. High pressure in France also brings a better day with sunny spells, although the risk of some morning fog. Snow showers affecting the Low Countries and perhaps the coasts of northern Germany. Further snow showers in Poland, some of them heavy. There is also the threat of some wintry showers through Austria and Hungary as well as Switzerland.
Northern Italy will have rain, falling as sleet on the hills, whilst the south should be drier with some sunny spells. Cloud and some showers through Greece whilst more persistent rain affects Turkey. Snow could be a problem through Bulgaria and Romania, this becoming heavy at times.
A cold day through the Baltic States and Finland. There could be some snow showers here, most of them light. Staying cold but dry through Denmark and most of Sweden. Cold and fair for Norway.