Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 26th February 2011
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
Cold for much of Europe and rather unsettled too
Saturday
Another fair day again for Spain and Portugal with northern areas seeing an increase in cloud and periods of rain here. Fair to the south of France with plenty of sunshine, but cloudier skies through western and northern areas bringing periods of rain. Cloud and rain again across the Low Countries and Germany, this heavy at times. More cloud for Poland with some rain and drizzle in the west. Broken cloud and some sunny spells to come through Hungary with drizzle in Austria. Switzerland should be dry with some sunny periods too.
Low pressure over Italy brings an unsettled day again here, heavy showers in the south and east, but the north should become brighter and drier. Some showers for Greece too and again these could be heavy. Low pressure for Turkey gives periods of heavy showers, and Bulgaria and Romania are going to be fair and cold with sunny spells.
High pressure to the north gives a cold day through Finland and the Baltic States. Cloud and periods of sleet and snow across Sweden with strong winds here. More cloud and some sleet and snow for Denmark, although Norway should become brighter with sunny spells developing, although some showers in the west.
Sunday
A band of cloud and showery rain pushes south through Spain and Portugal today, affecting more southern coasts. Elsewhere it will be cool and dry with some sunny spells. hilly across France with some showers and nippy and showery too for the Low Countries. Cloud and some drizzly rain in much of Germany with cloud, misty weather for Poland. Dull too through Austria and Hungary with more persistent rain across Switzerland.
Italy should be fair with some sunny spells at first, although morning fog may take some time to clear. Once it has the morning should be bright with sunny spells, although some showers developing in the afternoon. Greece is likely to be having a few more showers too, with Turkey unsettled and cloudy with showers to come here. Bulgaria and Romania will be chilly with a risk of snow showers in the east.
The baltic States are going to be cold but mainly dry, with some snow affecting Finland where it will be bitterly cold. rather dull across Sweden with some freezing drizzle here, and similar for Denmark. Brighter in Norway with the best of any sunny spells to the west.