Issued: 0530hrs Friday 23rd December 2011
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Fine in the western Mediterranean but unsettled to the east

Friday
Another fair day across Portugal and Spain with some good spells of sunshine here. It should stay fair through France too with more sunny spells, although there is a threat of fog in the south. That fog affecting the north of Italy too, but the south will be breezier. Cloud and rain through Greece and parts of Turkey, some of it heavy at times.
For the Low Countries and Germany there will be some cloud on northern coasts, but for most the day is going to be dry with sunny spells. Cloudy with some rain in Poland, whilst Switzerland, Hungary and Austria will have some sunshine after morning fog clears.
Windier weather to the north of Europe bringing cloud and periods of rain through Denmark and the Baltic States. Windy with more cloud and rain or snow over Finland and Sweden. Brighter weather following to the west of Norway and turning cooler here.

Christmas Eve
Fair across Spain and Portugal with some good spells of sunshine here. It stays dry and fine across most of France and the Low Countries too. There will be some cloud and rain affecting the northwest of Italy and southeast France with strong winds here. Fair through the Low Countries and Germany.
Southern Italy will have some sunny spells and should be dry, whilst Greece is cold and dry as well. Some showers across Turkey, a few of them heavy. Fair for Bulgaria and Romania and feeling cold here.
To the north there will be some fair and mild conditions through Norway and Denmark, with morning rain clearing the east coast of Sweden. Sleet and snow turning to rain through through Finland and the Baltic States.