Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Sep 18/02 - 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 the Central and Alpine Districts as well as
the Gippsland Districts.
Flood Advices are current [see Flood Warning Summary].
Weather Pattern
A ridge of high pressure will approach from the west on Thursday before moving
over the State during Thursday night and Friday. Another cold front will
approach Victoria on Friday then move across the State on Saturday. A high
pressure system move towards Victoria on Sunday. 
Victoria
Thursday:  Showers contracting to southern and mountain areas during the
morning, then becoming more isolated during the day. Cool with strong squally
west to southwest winds, locally gale force in the east, moderating gradually
from the west .
UV Index: 5 [High] reduced to 2 [moderate] under cloud. 
Friday:    Local early frost in the north. Fine apart from isolated showers near
the coast. Cool to mild.
Saturday:  Scattered showers in the south. Cool to mild.
Sunday:    Early fog patches then fine in the north. Isolated showers in the
south, Cool to mild.
IDV10450
Forecast for Melbourne
Thursday
Cloudy periods with showers, mainly in the morning. Strong, gusty west to
southwest winds gradually moderating.                           
Min 7     Max 16
Friday
Fine.                                       Min 7    Max 20
Saturday
Few showers.                                Min 10    Max 16
Sunday
Shower or two.                              Min 8    Max 17
Trend for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Mainly fine. Mild to warm.
IDV10460
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Thursday:  West to southwest winds of 25 to 35 knots  moderating to 20 to 30
knots in the morning, then to 15 to 20 knots by the evening.  Waves of 1.5 to
2.5  metres gradually abating to one metre or less by tonight.  A gale warning
is current.
Friday:    Westerly winds of 10 to 15 knots tending northwesterly and freshening
to 15 to 20 knots later.
Saturday:  An early southwesterly change at 20 to 25 knots then moderating to 15
to 20 knots later.
Sunday:    Southwest winds of 10 to 15 knots.
Headline Melbourne: Showers easing. Wind moderating. 

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STAT News Service

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