Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 15th December 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Staying unsettled in the eastern Mediterranean, as colder air drains south

Tuesday
Scattered showers of rain, sleet and even some snow for northern and eastern parts of Spain today. To the south and through Portugal it should be fine with plenty of sunshine. A very cold day to come across France with a low risk of a snow showers, whilst the Low Countries and Germany should be dry with sunny spells here. A few snow showers affecting Poland and Germany, although mainly dry. Austria, Hungary and Switzerland will be dry too.
Low pressure over Italy brings some sunny spells and an occasional shower here. There will be cloud and some rain for Greece with this rain extending through Cyprus, Crete and into Turkey too. Fog could be a problem for Bulgaria and Romania with this slow to clear.
To the north cloud and some snow showers will be affecting the Baltic States, whilst Finland is dry. More cloud and some showers across southeastern parts of Sweden, whilst Denmark and Norway should be dry, although some rain may affect western Denmark later.

Thursday
A chilly day over northern and eastern Spain, the threat of some wintry showers for eastern coasts and the Balearics. Elsewhere the day should be dry with good spells of sunshine, whilst Portugal remains fair throughout. Cold conditions over much of central and southern France, with somecloud and outbreaks of rain to the north. Windy with rain turning to sleet and snow over the Low Countries, and more persistent and heavy snow into northern Germany. Breezy and cold with snow later for Poland. Hungary, Austria and Switzerland will be cold and dry wituh some bright or sunny spells.
Italy has a chilly day with some scattered shwers on eastern coasts. To the west it is going to be brighter with some sunny spells. Low rpessure over Greece brings cloud, rain, sleet and snow. More cluod and drizzle with some rain too over Turkey. Bulgaria and Romania will be cold with bright spells, but also some snow showers in the east.
Strong winds through the Baltic States with heavy snow arriving from the west. More snow to come through Finland and very widy here too. Snow showers for Sweden and Norway as well as Denmark.