Issued: 0530hrs Thursday 14th December 2023
Duty forecaster: Filotas Paschos

Some outbreaks of rain/snow on Thursday, but high pressure extends east on Friday, with dry conditions away from the southeast

Thursday
Some rain over north Spain, this maybe heavy and persistent, otherwise Iberian Peninsula will enjoy a mostly dry day, with best of sunshine over Portugal and southern parts of Spain. Rather cloudy and breezy for France with outbreaks of rain, same for the United Kingdom where rain is expected in the morning, and a few showers later. A mix of cloud and showers across the Low Countries as well as Germany and Poland, Czechia, Austria, Hungary.
Fairly cold across Scandinavia but mostly dry across Denmark and Sweden while it will get wet with snow over hills in Norway soon. Finland, the Baltic States and Belarus will see outbreaks of snow, same for Ukraine where a low pressure system will track the country bringing rain in south and snow in north.
More unsettled weather across the Mediterranean, as a low pressure system will be created west of Italy and will track east to the Aegean Sea. Starting from west, the Balearics as well as Sardinia, Corsica and Italy will see a mix of sunny spells and showers, some of them on the heavy side and possible thundery. Greece will see a rather cloudy day with some rain reaching the western parts in the evening. Turkey will remain dry for most of the day, but with thickening cloud.

Friday
Anticyclonic conditions spreading east over much of the continent bringing settled and dry condition for most countries. In more detail, Portugal and Spain will see a sunny day with light winds, and some overnight fog in north. France a rather cloudy day but dry with some fog developing in places overhang. As for the UK it will much more windy, with cloud, best of sunshine over England. Northwest Scotland will see some heavy and persistent rain. Low Countries and Germany will see rather cloudy and chilly day. While further south and east, there is a risk for some snow showers in Poland, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic States.
Norway will have some persistent and heavy at time rain and snow over higher ground, this mostly in west, while Sweden and Denmark will see a cold, rather cloudy but dry day, and same for Finland.
Across the Mediterranean, unsettled weather conditions are expected for Italy, southern Balkans and Turkey with some colder conditions developing too, with outbreaks of rain this heavy in places, and mountain snow. Further west the Balearics, Sardinia and Corsica will have mostly dry conditions but breezy.