Issued: 0530hrs Friday 16th December 2016
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Chilly central-eastern countries

Friday
A shallow area of low pressure across Spain brings areas of thundery rain. A brisk northerly wind is likely for Portugal. An east to south-easterly flow affects the Mediterranean, with some heavy rain around the Balearics and Sardinia, perhaps grazing Sicily, but most of Italy will stay dry. Breezy for Greece , and risk of a few showers, highs 11C.
High pressure centred over eastern Europe produces plenty of dry weather across central parts of the continent. Areas of cloud and sun for France, temperatures 8 to 14C, warmest around the Biscay coast. Germany and the Alps should see a good amount of sunshine overall, but it will be cool at 2 to 5C. Fair weather for the Low Countries and much of Scandinavia. Chilly across northern Europe, widely close to freezing. Scattered showers for the Baltic states. Some rain and mountain snow for north-west Norway.

Saturday
High pressure continues to reside across central Europe, bringing extensive dry weather. Areas around the Mediterranean will be windy and unsettled, with some prolonged heavy falls of rain affecting south-east Spain and also Sicily. However, much of Italy, plus southern France and also Portugal should be dry and bright. Scattered showers for Greece, and windy across the Aegean Sea.
A good deal of sunshine for central Europe, although some low level fog is possible. Chilly across Germany, the Alps and eastern Europe temperatures near or below freezing for many countries, whilst France will be milder at 8 to 13C. A west to south-westerly flow influences Scandinavia, bringing rain to western Norway, but areas around the Baltic will stay dry.