Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 22nd December 2010
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
Cold weather persists to the north, but very warm in southeast
Wednesday
Low pressure over Spain today with a front bringing outbreaks of rain. Snow affecting France too, mainly to the east, whilst more western areas will be brighter. The risk of some heavy snow across the Low Countries and northern Germany. Poland has snow through central and northern parts of Poland, with the south milder and in drizzle. A murky day across Austria, Hungary and Switzerland with a chance of drizzle.
Italy will have mild conditions and some sunny spells, the best in the east. Greece and Turkey will be dry and warm with plenty of sunshine here. More fair weather across Bulgaria and Romania, although there is a risk of some fog here.
Staying cold for the Baltic States and Finland, with dry weather here. Bitterly cold for Norway, whilst some snow may drift into southern Denmark. Norway and Sweden should be generally dry and cold.
Thursday
Cold air plunging through Iberia today. This takes an area of cloud and rain southwards through Spain, mostly to the east. Brighter and colder weather follows, together with showers. Snow showers across France, some of them heavy and breezy here. More persistent and heavy snow for southern and eastern parts of France. Windy across the Low Countries and Germany and very cold here with a few snow showers. Cloud and snow affecting Poland, with rain through Hungary and heavy snow affecting Austria and Switzerland.
Italy will have an unsettled day with cloud and some heavy periods of rain across northern and western parts of the country. To the south it is drier with some sunny spells. Greece and Turkey will have lots of sunshine and very warm weather. Misty and murky through Bulgaria and Romania but mild here as well.
The Baltic States stay cold and breezy through the day. Very cold but dry across Finland. Cold and windy for Sweden and bitterly cold in the north. Staying very cold across Denmark and Norway with south snow to the southwest.