Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 15th December 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
Bitterly cold air sinking south through northern areas, unsettled to the southeast
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 some cloud 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 with some bright or sunny spells.
Italy has a chilly day with some scattered showers on eastern coasts. To the west it is going to be brighter with some sunny spells. Low pressure over Greece brings cloud, rain, sleet and snow. More cloud 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 windy here too. Snow showers for Sweden and Norway as well as Denmark.
Friday
A fair day across most of Portugal and Spain with plenty of sunshine. Thicker cloud affecting the far north of Portugal and Spain bringing some rain here. Southern parts of France will have a few showers, although colder weather affects most of France bringing a few snow showers to the north. Further snow showers across the Low Countries and northern Germany, with thicker cloud and some snow affecting Poland. More snow through Hungary, but dry and bright over Austria and Switzerland.
Italy will have an unsettled day with low pressure bringing rain, some of it heavy. The rain turning to snow over the far north. Greece will be dry with plenty of sunshine throughout. Showers and rain across Turkey whilst Bulgaria and Romania will be cold with some bright spells.
Milder conditions across the Baltic States and Finland will be bringing widespread mist and fog. Cloud and rain or sleet for much of Sweden, snow inland. Some snow showers across Denmark and Norway some of them heavy.