Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Sep 24/02 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warnings
Gale warnings are current for all Victorian coastal waters. 
A strong wind warning is current for Port Phillip and Western Port.
Weather Pattern
A complex low pressure system south of the Bight will continue moving slowly
eastwards this week and, as it does so, a succession of cold fronts will affect
southeastern Australia. A cold front will move through Victoria later today then
subsequent fronts on Friday and Saturday, establishing a colder south to
southwesterly airstream across the state over the weekend.
Victoria
Wednesday: Scattered showers developing from the west mainly on and south of the
ranges this afternoon, but remaining mostly fine in the north and far east. The
risk of isolated thunderstorms about the southwest and coasts this afternoon and
evening. Fresh northwest to northerly winds shifting cooler gusty westerly from
the west later.   
UV Index: 6 [High] reduced to 2 [moderate] under cloud. 
Thursday:  Showers contracting to the southwest in the morning. Cool to mild.
Friday:    Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms developing, particularly
on and south of the ranges. Becoming cooler.
Saturday:  Showers, mainly in the south. Local hail and thunder. Cool to cold.
Forecast for Melbourne
Wednesday
Fine at first, before a few showers develop late in the afternoon and evening
with the risk of a thunderstorm. Fresh north to northwesterly wind shifting
gusty westerly this evening.
Max 21
Thursday
Fine. Partly cloudy. Moderate to fresh northwest wind.    Min 8    Max 19
Friday
Few showers.                                Min 12    Max 17
Saturday
Showers.                                    Min 9    Max 16
Trend for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Showers clearing. Cold at first then becoming mild.
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Wednesday: North to northwesterly winds of 15 to 20 knots increasing to 20 to 25
knots this afternoon then shifting westerly at 20 to 30 knots this evening.
Waves of  1 metre rising to 1 to 2 metres. A strong wind warning is current.
Thursday:  Westerly wind easing to 15 to 20 knots during the morning and tending
northwesterly. Waves abating to about 1 metre. 
Friday:    North to northwest wind freshening to 20 to 25 knots then shifting
west to southwesterly later.
Saturday:  Westerly winds of 20 to 25 knots shifting southwest at 20 to 25 knots
during the day.
Headline Melbourne: Few late showers.

---

STAT News Service

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here