Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 28th January 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Cold through northern Europe with snow in the east

Thursday
A fair day to come through Spain and Portugal. There will be cloud and some outbreaks of rain affecting the north of Spain. This area of cloud and rain extends through central France, although to the north and south it should be fairt with more sunny spells. Wintry showers through the Low Countries and Germany with some heavy snow showers in Poland. Cold with some sleet and snow through Hungary and Austria with some snow in Switzerland later in the afternoon.
Low pressure over Italy will be bringing some showers, and these showers are going to be heavy at times. Scattered showers over Greece and Crete. Cyprus and Turkey will have cloud and some showers, a few of them heavy. To the north there will be broken cloud and a few sunny spells as well as feeling cold.
To the north there will be strong winds and snow through the baltic States, this heavy in Lithuania. More wind and cold through Finland with the risk of some bits of snow. Heavy snow and cloud through the south of Sweden, with snow showers to the north. Breezy and cold with a mic of sunshine and snow showers in Denmark and Norway, some heavy at times.

Friday
More cloud and some rain for the north of Spain today. Through more central and southern areas it is going to be brighter and dry. Fair through Portugal as well. Cloud and some rain and sleet across the north and west of France, while the south and east will be drier with sunny spells. More cloud and some heavy rain or sleet, possibly even snow across the Low Countries, this pushing into western Germany later. Poland will be cold with sunny spells and a few snow showers. Fair through Hungary, Austria and Switzerland and chilly.
For Italy it will be a bright day with sunny spells and some showers in the south. More cloud and showers, a few of them heavy through Crete, these showers affectign Greece too. Through Cyprus and Turkey it will be dry with sunny spells, although western and northern areas are cloudy with some outbreaks of rain. Rain and snow clearing east through Bulgaria and becomig dry and cold with sunny spells.
To the north low pressure will bring sleet and snow through the Baltic States as well as strong winds. Mopre snow to the south of Finland, but fair to the north. More snow over eastern parts of Sweden, but fair elsewhere. Denmark and southern Norway will have scattered snow showers, whilst to the north there will be more cloud with snow showers.