Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Jan 30/09 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

for the period until midnight EDT Tuesday 3 February 2009.
Warning Summary at issue time
The CFA has declared a day of Total Fire Ban for the Eastern, North Eastern,
Central, North Western and South Western Total Fire Ban Districts for Friday 30
January and Saturday 31 January.
Fire weather warning for Western, North Central, Northern Country, Wimmera,
Mallee, Central, West and South Gippsland and Northeast forecast districts.
Strong wind warning for Victorian waters between Mallacoota and 60nm east of
Gabo Island.
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 high pressure system located over the Tasman Sea will remain slow moving.
Another high south of the Bight will pass south of Tasmania during the weekend
and reach the Tasman Sea on Monday. Yet another high pressure system will pass
to the south of Tasmania on Tuesday.
Forecast for the rest of Friday
Fine apart from isolated thundery showers in the south. Light to moderate north
to northwesterly winds, tending southerly in the south.
Forecast for Saturday
The chance of afternoon thunderstorms, mainly about the south and ranges. Very
hot inland with light to moderate northerly winds. Afternoon seabreezes near
the coast freshening and gradually extending inland.
Maximum Fire Danger: Very high to extreme inland.
Forecast for Sunday
Possible morning drizzle over Gippsland and the chance of afternoon
thunderstorms near the ranges. Hot inland, grading to mild to warm near the
coast. Mainly moderate to locally fresh southeast to southerly winds.
Forecast for Monday
The chance of afternoon thunderstorms about the ranges. Fine elsewhere. Hot
inland, grading to mild to warm near the coast. Mainly moderate to locally
fresh southeast to southerly winds.
Forecast for Tuesday
The chance of afternoon thunderstorms about the eastern ranges. Fine elsewhere.
Hot inland, grading to mild to warm near the coast. Mainly moderate southeast
to southerly winds, fresh at times near the coast during the afternoon.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 5:00 am EDT Saturday.
* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or
public phones.

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STAT News Service