Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 17th March 2011
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Cool for most with rain in places

Thursday
High pressure for Spain and Portugal again today, bringing plenty of sunshine and dry conditions here, although it will be cold, especially in the east. Cloud and a few showers along northern coasts of France, but for most of the country it should be dry with sunny spells. More cloud for the Low Countries and northern Germany bringing some rain here. A few showers across Germany and Poland as well as Switzerland and Austria where there will be sunny spells too.
Low pressure through Italy brings sunny spells, although there will be showers across central and southern areas, some of them heavy at times. Fair through Greece with sunny spells. An area of cloud and outbreaks of showery rain will be moving into Greece and affecting Bulgaria and Romania too.
High pressure to the north brings dry weather across the Baltic States, although windy here. Dry and cold for Finland too with some sunny spells. More cloud and some outbreaks of rain for eastern parts of Sweden, although cloud and some showers affect Denmark and Norway.

Saturday
A fair day across Iberia with some good spells of sunshine, although it is going to be cold once again. There may be a few showers for eastern parts of France, but the west should be dry. Rain may affect the Low Countries and north7ern Germany with Poland being dry and bright with a few showers. A few showers in Switzerland, Hungary and Switzerland where it is going to be feeling chilly too.
Low pressure brings showers to Italy, a few of them on the heavy side, but there will be sunny spells in between too. Sunny spells for Greece and dry here, whilst some rain will be passing through parts of Turkey. More rain to come in Bulgaria and Romania, although this clearing to showers.
A cold and breezy day through the baltic States and Finland with some sunny spells to come here. Showers and cloud for the south of Sweden, and rain arriving in Denmark later. Some showery rain and sleet for Norway.