Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 15th April 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Heavy rain across Portugal, a cool northeast flow for central areas

Thursday
A wet and windy day to come across Portugal today, some of the rain heavy at times. Cloud and rain in some western parts of Spain with good spells of sunshine in eastern areas. France is going to be dry with sunny spells and it will be feeling cool as well here. A fair day in the Low Countries with sunny spells. Some showers moving south through Germany, these heavy and thundery in places. Further showers for Poland, some of them heavy at times. Austria, Hungary and Switzerland should be dry with sunny spells throughout.
A fair day in northern and central parts of Italy, with cloud and the risk of some patchy drizzle in the far south. Crete and Greece will be dry with sunshine throughout the day. A few showers forming inland over Cyprus and inland parts of Turkey. Cloud and outbreaks of rain for Romania and Bulgaria.
Finland will be dry with sunny spells. Hazy sunshine through Finland, although some cloud and rain in the far north. More cloud and rain across northern Norway and Sweden, but southern parts of Sweden should be dry. Showers for southern Norway and fair for most of Denmark.

Friday
Wind with cloud and some showers across Portugal, these heavy. Hazy sunshine over most of Spain, but some rain in the far northwest. A few heavy showers across central France, but fair elsewhere with sunny spells although cool again in the northeast wind. Fair across the Low Countries and remaining dry through Germany and Poland with good spells of sunshine. Staying fair for most of Austria and Poland, although a few showers could affect Switzerland.
Italy will be dry with sunny spells, although a few showers could affect more southern areas. Showers too for Greece, a few of them on the heavy side. Crete should be dry with sunny spells, and the sunshine extends into Cyprus and Turkey too. Some cloud through Bulgaria and Romania, but staying dry.
The Baltic States has showers, these heavy at times. Cloud and rain affecting Finland, with strong winds bringing cool but dry weather over Sweden. Cool with a few showers for Norway and Denmark.