Australia -- New South Wales Weather Update

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

Warning Summary:
A Severe Weather Warning for Alpine areas of the Southern Tablelands and South
West Slopes above 1200 metres. A Sheep Graziers Warning for the Southern
Tablelands and South West Slopes for overnight Wednesday and Thursday morning. A
Gale Warning for coastal waters south of Montague Island. Strong Wind Warning
for coastal waters between Smoky Cape and Montague Island. A Fire Weather
Warning for Very High to Extreme fire danger in the Central West Slopes,
Southern Tablelands, Riverina and Lower Western districts. Refer to Fire Weather
Warning for the latest Rural Fire Service Total Fire Ban information. For the
latest warning information please check the Bureau's web site
http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/
Current Weather Situation and Future Developments:
A high will be near New Zealand on Wednesday, making way for a vigorous cold
front approaching New South Wales from the west. The front is expected to move
across the state later Wednesday and into Thursday. Warm conditions with
strengthening winds will precede the front, with a significantly cooler airmass
affecting the south of the state in its wake. Windy conditions should moderate
quickly behind the change on Thursday as the next high pressure ridge moves in
from the west. The best potential for rainfall is in the west and south of the
state behind the change, and the cooler airmass is likely to bring some patchy
snow to the alpine region.
Forecast for Wednesday
Warm with freshening northwest winds, strong at times in the south, ahead of a
cooler, gusty southwesterly change in the west during the afternoon, extending
to the central and southern slopes later. Some patchy rain near and behind the
change, mainly in the south, falling as snow on the Alpine areas overnight.
Areas of raised dust in the west.
Fire danger: Very High/Extreme Central West Slopes & Plains, Southern
Tablelands, Riverina and Lower Western. Locally Very High Hunter, North West
Slopes & Plains, Upper Western.
Forecast for Thursday
Showers on and west of the ranges over the southern half, contracting south and
clearing during the morning.  Cool to rather cold and gusty south to southwest
winds following the change, reaching the northeast of the state during the
afternoon. Isolated afternoon or evening showers and thunderstorms possible in
the far northeast.
Forecast for Friday
Early frost patches about the ranges and western slopes. Isolated showers in the
far northeast, otherwise fine. Southwest to southeast winds.
Forecast for Saturday
Isolated showers along the coast and adjacent ranges, north from the Illawarra.
Southeast to northeast winds.

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STAT News Service