Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 27th August 2011
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Staying dry over southern Europe, but rain to the north

Saturday
Still expect sunshine and showers across Britain today and these will also affect France, Belgium, Holland and Denmark.
An area of rain is forecast from Norway into Sweden into Germany today with heavy showers across the Alps. That strong area of high pressure across eastern Europe will continue to keep it fine, settled and sunny from Poland across into the Baltic Region, Finland, Russia and down into The Ukraine. Lots of warm, sunny weather to come across the Balkans today and this will extend west across Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearic into Spain and Portugal.

Sunday
A fair day through Portugal and Spain on Sunday. This sunshine extending into much of the western Mediterranean where it should be staying dry too. A few heavy showers affecting central Italy and also Greece. There could be some heavy showers over the mountains of Turkey.
Staying fair through France and much of central Europe. There will be good spells of sunshine through Switzerland and Hungary as well as Austria. Some showers over northern France and northern Germany, a few of them heavy at times.
Low pressure brings heavy showers into Norway with rain and strong winds to the southwest. Mainly fair for Sweden, although a threat of some rain or showers in the Baltic States and Finland.