Issued: 0530hrs Wednesday 9th March 2011
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Windy in northern areas, but fair to the south

Wednesday
Some showery rain moving into the south of Portugal and southwest Spain through Wednesday, turning windy here as well. More northern and eastern areas should be drier with some sunny spells though. A large proportion of central Europe is going to be remaining dry and fair with good spells of sunshine, although there could be some morning mist and fog patches, these dense in places. The sunshine extends through France, Germany, Poland and across the Alpine regions. Italy remains fine throughout the day too with more sunshine here after morning fog has cleared away. All change for the eastern Mediterranean where a deep area of low pressure is plunging very cold air south through Greece and Turkey. There could be some substantial falls of snow across northern and central Turkey although the south should be drier. That leaves it cold through Cyprus too with the threat of some wintry showers here.
Further north it is going to be much more unsettled. Stronger winds, although drier weather for the Baltic States, drizzle across Finland. Rain will march eastern through Sweden and Denmark with both being windy. Showers and brighter spells follow into Norway.

Thursday
Showers affecting the south of Spain again through today bringing the threat of some more persistent periods of rain at times. Across central and northern Iberia conditions should be drier and brighter with good sunny spells. The sunshine persists over most of central and southern France, although broken cloud affects the north. Windy weather with showery periods of rain through the Low Countries and across northern Germany and Poland. More southern areas should be drier.
High pressure brings a fine day to Italy with lots of sunshine to come here. There will be more sunshine for Greece. Turkey will be cold with a few showers in the east, although southern and western areas should be dry.
A breezy and cloudy day over the Baltic States. The cloud and drizzle affecting Finland as well, where it will be windy. Staying cloudy and wet across southern Norway and Sweden as well as across Denmark, the rain heavy at times and combined with strong winds.