Issued: 0530hrs Friday 4th February 2011
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Windy and wet in the north, but fair and sunny to the south

Friday
A fair day across Spain and Portugal with lots of sunshine. This sunshine extends into France, although the far north of the country may be breezy. Cloudier skies for the Low Countries and breezy here with some drizzle on the coasts. Cloudier skies too for northern Germany and Poland with some heavy bursts of rain in the north. Hungary, Austria and Switzerland and likely to be dry with sunny spells.
A fair day across Italy with more sunshine here. Greece has showers in the east, although western areas will be dry and bright with some sunny spells. Cloud and periods of rain affecting much of southern Turkey, some of these heavy at times. Northern parts of Turkey should be fair. Bulgaria will have some sunshine and dry conditions, although showers will affect Romania.
Windy with sleet and snow spreading from the west later in the day through the Baltic States and Finland. More snow for northern parts of Sweden, breezy in the south with some sunshine. Cloud in southern Denmark but brighter to the north. Showers affecting much of Norway.

Saturday
High pressure brings another fine day across Spain and Portugal. Lots of sunshine here throughout the day, and this sunshine will be extending throughout France too. Breezy and dry across the Low Countries and staying windy through Germany too. An area of rain affects northern Germany and Poland, but for most of the Low Countries, Germany and Poland the day will be dry with sunny spells. More sunshine through Hungary, Austria and Switzerland with lots of dry weather here.
A fair day across Italy too with lots of dry weather here and sunshine. More sunshine to come for Greece and Turkey although there will be heavy showers over southern parts of Turkey. Bulgaria and Romania will be dry with lots of sunshine here.
Cloud and some sleet or snow moving into the Baltic States with Finland being mainly dry. Cloud and some rain or snow through central Sweden, although to the south it should be drier with sunny spells. A windy day in southern Sweden and Norway as well as Denmark where there will be heavy showers.