Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 13th December 2014
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Mostly fair across the Mediterranean; thundery in Cyprus


Saturday
An area of low pressure resides over western Iberia on Saturday and brings heavy rain to Portugal and western Spain. Eastern Spain and the Balearics remain dry and warm with sunshine. Fair weather extends across the central Mediterranean, with showers very rare and isolated for southern France and northern Italy. Greece will see a bright and dry day. Most of Turkey is fine, although thundery rain may persist toward the south-eastern coast, and also affects Cyprus. An area of cloud and rain persists across central France, and southern Belgium, where it may turn wintry over the higher ground. Germany will be affected by the same narrow band of cloud and rain in central areas as a cold stretches across central Europe. Mostly dry for the Alpine region and eastern Europe, although quite breezy. Showery and breezy in Denmark and the Netherlands. Friday's storm system will clear from the Baltic into Finland and northern Russia, but giving some heavy snowfall. Frequent rain and mountain snow will affect western Norway, whilst most of Sweden will be dry and bright, although scattered showers in the south.

Sunday
Low pressure will continue to bring unsettled conditions to Spain and Portugal on Sunday. Gusty winds and heavy thundery rain particularly in central and south-western Iberia, whilst further north and east is drier. Mostly fair for Italy with variable cloud and isolated showers. Greece and south-eastern Europe will be dry with sunshine, and it is also dry for Turkey. Showers continue to threaten Cyprus. A lot of cloud for central and southern France with a little patchy rain, and there may be a period of light to moderate snow in the Swiss Alps and southern Germany. A chilly day for northern France, the Low Countries and Germany, although it will be largely dry with some sunshine. A little patchy rain and mountain snow in the Czech Republic. Remaining windy and showery in Denmark and North Sea coasts of northern Europe. Strong winds, rain and snow affects western Norway. Breezy too across the Baltic, although much of Sweden and Finland will be dry but cold.