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 tonight
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 over the Tasman Sea is drawing near New Zealand, while a
vigorous cold front approaches New South Wales from the west. Warm
conditions and strengthening winds will precede the front, with areas
in the south likely to experience particularly gusty conditions this
afternoon and evening. The front will progress across the state later
today and into Thursday, allowing a significantly cooler airmass to
move in behind it. Although the fast movement of the system is
limiting the potential for significant rainfall, parts of the
southern inland are expected to see some rain develop behind the
change, with the airmass sufficiently cool for some patchy snow in
the alpine region. Windy conditions should moderate reasonably
quickly on Thursday as the front moves away to the east, and the next
high pressure ridge moves in from the west, with most of the region
returning to dry weather heading into the weekend.
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 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