Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 18th December 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Very cold through northern Europe, much milder to the south

Saturday
Cloud and some rain affecting southern parts of Spain and Portugal on Saturday. The rest of Iberia should be fine with good spells of sunshine. Snow showers affecting France, especially the west, whilst eastern areas should be dry with some sunshine. Snow showers for northern Germany too. Germany and Poland see a few snow showers, although some sunny spells too. Mainly dry across Austria, Hungary and Switzerland with some sunny spells here.
Italy has widespread mist and murk and the risk of some fog across the northern half of the country. To the south there will be some showers or longer periods of rain. Some drizzle in western Greece, but mainly dry here with sunny spells. A few showers over western and southern Turkey, as well as across Bulgaria and Romania.
A windy and cold day for Finland with scattered snow showers here. Breezy and very cold for much of Sweden, just a few snow showers in the far south. Some snow flurries for Denmark and the south of Norway, whilst most of the country should be dry.

Sunday
Generally fair through Spain and Portugal with plenty of sunshine here. There will be fair weather for the south of France, although to the north cloud and rain may well become heavy. The Low Countries will have some rain and sleet late i the day and this will be affecting the south of Germany too. Northern Germany and Poland will be cold with some bright spells, although cloud increasing. Hungary and Austria as well as Switzerland will be rather cloudy and murky.
Italy has a fair day for most, with the threat of fog again in the north. Some drizzle for western parts of Italy. Greece and Turkey should be dry with sunny spells, whilst Bulgaria and Romania may well have a misty and murky day with some drizzle.
Snow showers in the Baltic States, these becoming heavy at times over Finland. Windy here as well. For Sweden it will be cold but mainly dry. Cold and dry for Denmark and Norway.