Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 4/09 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

for the period until midnight EDT Sunday 8 February 2009.
Warning Summary at issue time
The CFA has declared a day of Total Fire Ban for the North Eastern and North
Western Total Fire Ban Districts for Thursday 05 February.
Fire weather warning for Northern Country, Wimmera, Mallee, North Central and
Northeast forecast districts.
Strong wind warning for Victorian waters between Wilsons Promontory 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 is over the Tasman Sea and a low pressure trough extends
from inland Australia to Victoria. A weak cold front will pass through Bass
Strait during today and a high pressure system will form south of Adelaide
before drifting across Bass Strait on Friday. A stronger cold front will cross
most of the State on Saturday and then through the northeast on Sunday.
Forecast for the rest of Thursday
Fine apart from isolated drizzle about the west coast at night. Hot to very hot
in the north and warm to hot in the south. Northerly winds at first in the east
but fresh and southwest winds gradually extending throughout from the west.
Maximum Fire Danger: Very high to extreme.
Forecast for Friday
Isolated early morning drizzle in Gippsland and about the southwest coast. Very
hot in the north with generally light to moderate northwesterly winds. Warm to
hot in the south with milder coastal seabreezes.
Forecast for Saturday
Very hot with fresh to strong north to northwesterly winds ahead of a gusty
southwesterly change.
Isolated showers mainly on and south of the ranges following the change and
becoming milder in the south. Areas of raised dust.
Forecast for Sunday
Isolated showers mainly on and south of the ranges. Moderate to fresh
southwesterly winds extending throughout. Very warm at first in the northeast,
otherwise cool to mild in the south and mild to warm in the north.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:30 pm EDT Thursday.
* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or
public phones.

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STAT News Service