Issued: 0530hrs Friday 17th September 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Autumnal conditions over much of Europe

Friday
An unsettled day to come across Spain and Portugal. There will be lots of cloud and some periods of rain with these heavy at times in more central and eastern areas. To the north expect further cloud and some outbreaks of rain, these extending through the south of France and into northern Italy. For central and northern parts of France the weather is going to be fair with good spells of sunshine.
Heavy showers affecting the Low Countries and Germany, as well as Poland, with the showers merging into longer spells of rain at times here. Thicker cloud and more rain over Hungary and Austria as well as Switzerland and some of that could be heavy in places.
Southern parts of Italy should be dry with sunny spells. It is going to be dry in Greece too with more sunshine to come here, although cloud and showers affecting Turkey, some heavy in the east. Drier through Bulgaria and Romania with sunny spells to come here.
To the north it is more unsettled with cloud and rain through the Baltic States and extending into Finland. There will be further cloud and showers as well as stronger winds through Sweden. Norway and Denmark have strong winds and some heavy periods of rain at times, strong winds to the south.

Saturday
Further showers over central and eastern parts of Spain, but for most of the country the day is going to be dry. A fair day over Portugal with sunny spells and staying fair across northern parts of Spain as well. Cloud and some rain affecting the far south of France, but central and more northern areas are likely to be dry with sunny spells throughout. It should be remaining fair across the Low Countries with a few showers moving into northern parts of Germany and Poland. Austria, Hungary and Switzerland should be dry with sunny spells.
Cloud and some rain over northern parts of Italy. More central and southern areas of the country are likely to be dry with good spells of sunshine. More sunshine to come through Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Crete and it should be dry here. Fair for Bulgaria but some cloud and rain affecting Romania.
Low pressure maintains the unsettled autumnal conditions over Scandinavia. Heavy showers for the Baltic States and Finland. Cloud and rain as well as strong winds in southern Sweden, Denmark and Norway.