Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 7th January 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Remaining wet and windy in the Mediterranean, but cold to the north

Thursday
An unsettled day to come across Spain and Portugal with low pressure to the south. Rain and cloud rotating around the low bringing wet weather to much of the Balearics, eastern and southern Spain as well as southern Portugal. To the north it is brighter with the risk of some heavy showers. France is going to be dry to the south but northern areas will be cloudier with some rain and snow. The sleet and snow affecting the Low Countries too with drier, although possibly foggy weather for Germany and Poland. Austria and Hungary will be dry and chilly with the risk of some fog, but sunny spells otherwise, and this fair weather into Switzerland too.
A fine day for the north of Italy, but some heavy showers in central areas. The south should be drier with sunny spells. Fine and warm across Greece, Cyprus and Crete with more sunshine over Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.
Cloud and some snow through the Baltic States with the threat of some heavier snow over Finland. Bitterly cold for Sweden and Norway as well as Denmark.

Friday
A deep area of low pressure in the Mediterranean will bring strong winds, rain and showers through the Balearics and the east of Spain. Further west it should be fine, but cold, the threat of a few snow showers for northern Spain. Southern France will be windy and chilly with the chance of some snow here, but norther France is likely to be drier with sunny spells. The Low Countries have a few snow showers but for most of Germany and Poland the day should be dry with sunny spells. Some cloud and drizzle across Austria and Hungary as well as Switzerland.
The low pressure brings strong winds to Italy with some rain or drizzle in the north and west. Fine and warm for most of Greece and Turkey with more sunshine here. The sunshine also affecting Bulgaria and Romania.
There will be snow through the Baltic States and Finland, although turning showery here. Dry and cold for Sweden as well as Denmark and most of Norway.