Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Jan 13/09 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

for the period until midnight EDT Saturday 17 January 2009.
Warning Summary at issue time
Fire Ban is current for Eastern, North Eastern, Central, North Western, South
Western Total Fire Ban Districts.
Fire weather warning for Alpine Areas, Western, North Central, Northern
Country, Wimmera, Mallee, Central, West and South Gippsland, East Gippsland and
Northeast forecast districts.
Strong wind warning for Victorian waters between Cape Otway and 60nm east of
Gabo Island.
Strong wind warning is current for Gippsland Lakes.
Strong wind warning is current for Western Port.
Strong wind warning is current for Port Phillip.
Details of warnings are available on the Bureau's website www.bom.gov.au, by
telephone 1300-659-217* or through some TV and radio broadcasts.
Weather Situation
A slow-moving high pressure system is situated over the Tasman Sea. A low
pressure trough over southwest Victoria will move northeastwards across the
remainder of Victoria during today. Another high pressure system will develop
over the Bight later in the week and a cold front will brush the coast on
Friday.
Forecast for the rest of Wednesday
Fine apart from the chance of isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms
about the eastern ranges. Hot and mostly sunny with moderate to fresh north to
northwesterly winds ahead of a cooler southwest to southerly change in the
southwest slowly extending northeastwards.
Maximum Fire Danger: Extreme
Forecast for Thursday
Isolated showers and possible thunderstorms about the northeast ranges. Fine
and becoming sunny elsewhere with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds
extending throughout.
Forecast for Friday
Isolated showers in the south, mainly near the coast. Fine and mostly sunny in
the north. Moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, stronger about the central
and east coast.
Forecast for Saturday
Isolated showers in the south, contracting east then clearing later. Fine and
mostly sunny in the north. Moderate to fresh southerly winds.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:30 pm EDT Wednesday.
* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or
public phones.

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STAT News Service