Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

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

Warning Summary
A severe weather warning for all Victorian districts, for widespread damaging
winds.
A fire weather warning for all districts except Gippsland and Alpine.
A farmers and graziers warning for all districts except the Mallee and Northern
Country.
A storm force wind warning  for all Victorian coastal waters including Port
Phillip and Western Port.
A gale warning for the Gippsland Lakes.
A road weather alert is current for Melbourne.
Current Weather Situation and Future Developments
A high pressure system will move over the Tasman Sea tonight. A vigorous cold
front will cross Victoria on Wednesday. A high pressure system will develop over
the Bight during Thursday then move slowly eastwards across northern Victoria on
Friday, then reach the Tasman Sea on Saturday.
Victoria
Wednesday:    Rain areas and gale force northerly winds developing in the far
southwest during the early morning before extending eastward during the day.  A
cold, squally southwesterly change developing from the west Wednesday morning
with showers, locally heavy in the south with small hail,   to follow. Isolated
thunderstorms.  Snow developing above 1000 metres later.
Fire Danger Wednesday: Generally Very High to Extreme.
UV Index:     4-5 [Moderate]
Thursday:     Scattered showers contracting to southern and mountain districts.
Snow contracting to the Alpine peaks.  Local hail and thunder in the southeast
at first. Cool to cold and windy.
Friday:       Isolated showers in southern and mountain districts contracting to
the coast. Cool.
Saturday:     Fine apart from morning fog patches in Gippsland. Generally light

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STAT News Service