Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 22nd September 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Most of the showers and rain in western areas, but the east stays fair

Thursday
Showers breaking out across southern parts of Spain and Portugal today and some of these are going to be heavy. Through France the heavy showers will be affecting the north and west, turning thundery at times. More southern and eastern areas should stay dry with sunny spells. The showers affecting the Low Countries too although Germany should be dry with plenty of sunshine. The sunshine continues through Austria, Poland, Hungary and Switzerland although there could be some morning fog patches here.
Italy may start murky in many places at first but the mist and fog will be bringing away to leave a dry and warm day with lots of sunshine. A risk of a few showers for the west of Greece but for most of the country the day is going to be fine and sunny. More sunshine to come across most of Turkey although there will be some cloud and outbreaks of rain in the north. Bulgaria and Romania may start with some autumnal mist and fog, but this soon clears to leave sunshine.
Fine through the Baltic States but more cloud in Finland where there could be some heavy rain in the west. Fair for most of Sweden and Denmark and warm here too. Cloud and some periods of rain in Norway.

Friday
Cloud and some outbreaks of rain affecting the north of Spain today. Most other parts of Iberia are going to be dry with plenty of sunshine to come here. Cloud and some outbreaks of rain or showers in France, most through more central areas. There will be some heavy bursts of rain in the Low Countries, these extending to western Germany. More eastern parts of Germany should be dry with sunny spells. Sunshine for Austria and Hungary but some showers could affect western Switzerland later.
Italy is going to be having a fine day with plenty of sunshine here and feeling warm too. More sunshine for most of Greece although a few showers in the south and these reaching western Crete too. Cyprus and Turkey should be dry with plenty of sunshine throughout. More sunshine in Bulgaria and Romania.
A breezy day in the Baltic States but dry with sunny spells, and some cloud in Finland, although mainly dry. More cloud and rain over Sweden, some of it heavy at times in the south, This heavy rain in Denmark too, as well as southern Norway.