Issued: 0530hrs Saturday 23rd February 2019
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Wet and windy Greece and southern Italy, snow over hills

Saturday
High pressure is centred around Poland, and broadly influences Europe with plenty of fair weather, and warm in the west. Sunshine for France, Spain and Portugal, with tempertaures topping 20C, or nearer 25C for southern Costas. Mild and dry weather extends across the Low Countries and western Germany.
Chillier air affects eastern Europe, close to freezing in many countries from Poland to Romania and Ukraine. Cold winds affect Greece, Turkey and southern Italy, with rain and snow - a risk of heavy snowfalls over higher terrain. Strong winds affect the southern Adriatic with low pressure centred over the eastern Mediterranean.
Southern Scandinavia will be dry and fairly mild, whilst a brisk westerly wind affects northern Norway bringing showery conditions. Much less cold than recent days for northern Scandinavia, lifting above freezing, up to 5 to 7C in eastern Sweden and Finland.

Sunday
Western Europe continues to bask in early spring warmth. Highest temperatures will be toward western and Spain, 25C in places, whilst southwest France will also nudge 20C. Cooler for eastern Spain and the Balerics as an easterly breeze develops. Low pressure south of Italy brings rain and wind to Sicily, and showery conditions persist for Greece and the Aegaen Sea with a brisk chilly breeze here.
High pressure resides over central Europe, with dry weather prevailing for Germany, the Alps and central-eastern countries. Mild around the Low Countries and southern Scandinavia, 11 to 15C, but cool for areas from Poland to Hungary and Romania, nearer 4 to 8C. Breezy and showery for northern Norway, with some rain and snow for northern Finland. Much of Sweden stays dry.