Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Sep 1/02 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warnings
A Gale warning has been issued for Victorian coastal waters west of Wilsons
Promontory including Port Phillip and Western Port, and for land areas of the
Wimmera, Western, North Central, Central and Alpine districts.
A Strong wind warning has been issued for Victorian coastal waters east of
Wilsons Promontory.
A Fire Weather Warning has been issued for the Mallee.   
Weather Pattern
A ridge of high pressure over eastern Victoria will weaken early Monday and a
warmer northerly airstream will strengthen rapidly.  A cold front will reach
western Victoria late Monday and extend to the east early Tuesday.  Another cold
front will cross the State early on Wednesday and yet another will whip past
southern Victoria on Thursday.
Victoria
Monday:    Patchy rain developing in western and central areas later in the day
or at night. Raised dust developing, chiefly in the northwest. Warm northerly
wind becoming strong and squally, ahead of a milder westerly change reaching the
west in the afternoon, and central parts in the evening. 
Tuesday:   Patchy rain clearing the east then isolated showers in the south.
Cool to mild. Windy. 
Wednesday: Scattered showers developing, chiefly in the south. Gusty northwest
to west winds. Cool.
Thursday:  Fine apart from isolated showers near the coast and morning fog
patches. Cool to mild.
IDV10450
Forecast for Melbourne
Monday
Fine for much of the day. Cloud increasing with rain to follow during the
evening. Northerly wind strengthening to reach gale force by the afternoon,
before shifting cooler westerly in the evening.
Min 10    Max 23
Tuesday
Windy. Shower or two.                       Min 13    Max 18
Wednesday
Few showers. Windy.                         Min 11    Max 17
Thursday
Mainly fine.                                Min 9    Max 18
Trend for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Windy with showery periods.  Becoming cooler.
IDV10460
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Monday:    Northerly wind at 10 to 15 knots strengthening to 20 to 30 knots
during the morning, and 30 to 40 knots in the afternoon before shifting westerly
at 15 to 25 knots in the evening. Waves 1 to 2 metres, reaching 3 metres during
the afternoon. A Gale warning is current. 
Tuesday:   Northwest winds of 20 to 30 knots.
Wednesday: Northwest winds of 20 to 30 knots shifting westerly, then easing 15
to 20 knots later.
Thursday:  Northwesterly winds  around 15 to 20 knots.
Headline Melbourne: Windy. Change with rain in evening. 
Headline Victoria:  Squally north wind developing. Warm ahead of late cool

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STAT News Service

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