Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Sep 17/02 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warnings
Storm warnings are current for Victorian coastal waters east of Cape Otway. 
Gale warnings are current for Victorian coastal waters west of Cape Otway, for
Port Phillip and Western Port and for the Gippsland Lakes. 
A land wind warning is current for all southern and mountain districts.
Weather Pattern
A rapidly moving cold front will cross Victoria today. The next high pressure
system will approach Adelaide on Thursday, moving to the north of Victoria on
Friday. Another cold front will approach the State on Friday and move through
southern districts on Saturday.
Victoria
Wednesday: Showers becoming more widespread in the south with local hail
developing. Isolated showers over the northern plains. Cool to mild with strong
to gale force northwesterly winds shifting squally west to southwesterly from
the west during the day.
UV Index: 6 [High] reduced to 2 [moderate] under cloud. 
Thursday:  Showers in the south becoming isolated and tending to clear from the
west. Cool.
Friday:    Fine apart from isolated showers near the coast. Cool to mild.
Saturday:  Isolated showers in the south. Cool to mild.
Forecast for Melbourne
Wednesday
Showers. The chance of local hail. Strong northwesterly winds shifting squally
west to southwesterly during the afternoon and reaching gale force at times.    
Max 17
Thursday
Few showers.                                Min 11    Max 17
Friday
Fine.                                       Min 9    Max 20
Saturday
Few showers.                                Min 10    Max 16
Trend for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Cool to mild. Mainly fine.
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Wednesday: Northwest to westerly winds of 25 to 35 knots, shifting west to
southwesterly at similar strength during the afternoon. Stronger squalls in
showers, possibly reaching 50 knots. Waves rising to 1.5 to 2.5 metres. A gale
warning is current.
Thursday:  West to southwesterly winds of 25 to 35 knots easing to 10 to 15
knots by night. Waves of 1.5 to 2 metres gradually abating to less than one
metre by night.
Friday:    West to northwesterly winds of 15 to 20 knots.
Saturday:  West to northwesterly winds of 20 to 25 knots shifting southwesterly
and later easing.
Headline Melbourne: Windy. Showers. 

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STAT News Service

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