Australia -- New South Wales Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Jan 1/08 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of New South Wales was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary:
Gale Warning for NSW coastal waters north of  Cape Byron and Strong Wind Warning
for coastal waters between Cape Byron and Smoky Cape. Flood warnings for the
Bogan, Paroo and Warrego rivers. Fire Weather Warning for Very High to Extreme
fire danger for the Upper and Lower Western districts. Refer to Fire Weather
Warning for the latest Rural Fire Service Total Fire Ban information.
Current Weather Situation and Future Developments:
A low over the Coral Sea will bring showers, strong southeast winds and heavy
easterly swells along the north coast of New South Wales for the next few days.
The low is expected to move slowly northward but a secondary low may form off
the southern Queensland coast Thursday or Friday with conditions deteriorating
in northeast NSW. The high pressure ridge over the remainder of NSW will weaken
today as a weak trough and southerly change affect the south of the state. A
high will move over the southern Tasman Sea on Thursday and Friday directing a
moderate east to southeast airstream over southern NSW.
Forecast for Wednesday
Scattered showers on the far north coast. Isolated showers along the remainder
of the northern coast and adjacent ranges. The chance of thunderstorms about the
Snowy Mountains. Fine elsewhere. Hot day in the west.  Southeast to northeast
winds, fresh to strong on the north coast. Dangerous surf conditions north of
Sydney.
Fire danger: Very high to extreme Upper and Lower Western and Riverina.
Forecast for Thursday
Scattered showers in the northeast, tending to rain on the far north coast.
Isolated showers and drizzle patches about the remainder of the coast. Isolated
afternoon showers and thunderstorms about the Snowy Mountains. Fine elsewhere.
Southeast to northeast winds, strong on the north coast. Dangerous surf
conditions in the north.
Forecast for Friday
Rain areas in the northeast. Isolated showers and drizzle patches along the
remainder of the coast, clearing in the far south. The chance of afternoon
thunderstorms about the Snowy Mountains. Southeast to northeast winds, fresh to
strong on the north coast. Dangerous surf conditions in the north.
Forecast for Saturday
Scattered showers over the northeast half. Fine in the southwest. Southeast to
northeast winds, fresh along parts of the coast.

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STAT News Service