Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Sep 15/02 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warnings
A land wind warning is current for the Western, Mallee, Wimmera, Central, North
Central, Northern Country, West Gippsland and Alpine districts.
Fire Weather Warning:  Forest Fire Danger will be extreme until midnight Sunday
15th September for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central and
Central districts.
Gale warnings are current for all Victorian coastal waters including Port
Phillip and Western Port.
A strong wind warning is current for the Gippsland Lakes. 
A Farmers and Graziers warning has been issued for the Western and Wimmera
districts.
A Road Weather Alert has been issued for the Melbourne Metropolitan area. 
Weather Pattern
A strong to gale force and squally north to northwesterly airstream will extend
eastward across the State tonight and during Monday morning as a low pressure
system south of the Bight moves southeastwards. An associated cold front will
slowly cross Victoria on Monday.  The front will move over the Tasman Sea on
Tuesday. Another cold front will affect southern Victoria later Wednesday with
the next high pressure nearing Adelaide on Thursday. 
Victoria
Tonight and Monday: A very windy night over much of the State with areas of
raised dust in the west along with isolated showers and thunderstorms. A band of
rain moving across the State tomorrow, contracting to eastern districts during
the afternoon as the strong, squally northerly wind shifts colder west to
southwesterly. Scattered showers over southern and mountain districts following
the change and local hail in the southwest late in the day.
UV Index: 5 [High] reduced to 2 [moderate] under cloud. 
Tuesday:   Rain in east clearing. Showers to follow, mainly in the south, with
local hail and thunder. Cool.
Wednesday: Showers in the south increasing. Generally fine in the north. Cool to
mild and windy.
Thursday:  Showers in the south becoming isolated and tending to clear from the
west. Cool.
IDV10450
Forecast for Melbourne
Tonight and Monday
Very strong and squally northerly winds overnight and at first tomorrow. Light
rain developing during the morning then easing to showers during the afternoon
as wind shifts colder westerly. 
Min 20    Max 22
Tuesday
Shower or two.                              Min 10    Max 16
Wednesday
Few showers developing.                     Min 9    Max 17
Thursday
Shower or two, mainly morning.              Min 11    Max 17
Trend for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Cool. Shower or two.
IDV10460
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Tonight and Monday: Northerly winds further increasing to 35 to 45 knots
overnight with squalls to 60 knots possible. Winds easing to 20 to 30 knots by
late morning and tending northwesterly then shifting westerly at 15 to 20 knots
later in the afternoon. Waves 2 to 3 metres abating to 1 to 2 metres during the
morning and later to around 1 metre.
Tuesday:   West to southwest winds of 15 to 20 knots tending northwest at
similar strength. 
Wednesday: Northwest wind increasing to 20 to 30 knots then shifting west to
southwesterly at 25 to 35 knots.
Thursday:  West to southwesterly wind 25 to 35 knots easing to 10 to 15 knots by
night.
Headline Melbourne: Windy. Rain period tomorrow.

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STAT News Service

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