Issued: 0530hrs Friday 11th February 2011
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Lots of sunshine across southern Europe, but raining to the north

Friday
High pressure bringing fair weather across Spain and Portugal today. It is going to be dry for most of the country, although cloud and outbreaks of rain will affect the northwest of Spain. Cloud and rain over northwestern parts of France, but for the rest of the country the day should be dry and bright although there may be some morning fog. Cloud and rain affecting the Low Countries and Germany and well as Poland. Sunny spells for Austria and Hungary as well as Switzerland.
Plenty of sunshine affecting Italy, although there will be some dense mist and fog patches through this morning. Greece will be dry with lots of sunshine throughout the day. Fine weather for Turkey with lots of sunshine, and this sunshine will be extending through Bulgaria and Romania.
Low pressure over Finland brings strong winds and periods of rain, sleet and snow for the Baltic States with snow showers in Finland. More snow showers for the east of Sweden and windy here too, although the north should be dry. Some morning sleet in Denmark but brightening up here. Norway should have sunny spells throughout.

Saturday
Some broken cloud across central parts of Spain and Portugal today, but for most the day is going to be fair with lots of sunshine. Some showers for the west of France but generally the day is going to be a fair one with some more spells of sunshine. The Low Countries will have cloud and some outbreaks of rain, these heavy at times. Fair weather for Germany and Poland with sunny spells here. A fair day across Hungary and Austria too with some more sunshine for Switzerland.
Italy should have a fair day with sunny spells once any morning mist or fog patches have gone. More sunshine to come across Greece with fair weather here. A fine day too for Turkey with sunny spells. Across Bulgaria and Romania there will be some cloud and showery bursts of rain.
To the north it is going to be bitterly cold across the Baltic States and Finland with snow showers, some of them heavy. Fair weather to come for Sweden, but cold again. A fair day for Denmark and Norway but feeling cold with good spells of sunshine.