Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 19/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warnings
Strong wind warnings are current for all Victorian coastal waters and for the
Gippsland Lakes.
A Brown Rot warning is current for northern Victoria. 
Weather Pattern
A extensive ridge of high pressure southeast of Victoria will move slowly
eastwards during the next few days. A low pressure trough will develop over
Victoria during Friday then move eastwards on Saturday with a low developing off
the New South Wales coast by Sunday. Another low pressure trough will then
develop over Victoria  during Sunday and Monday. 
Victoria
Tonight and Friday: Rain areas extending from the west to most parts overnight
and early Friday with locally heavy falls possible across the north and about
the ranges. Rain areas contracting to the east later Friday with scattered
showers and drizzle to follow and isolated afternoon thunderstorms in the
northwest. A generally mild to warm and humid day with light to moderate
northeasterly winds gradually easing then tending southwesterly in the west.  
UV Index: 10 [very high] decreasing to 2 [low] under thick cloud.
Saturday:  Patchy rain and isolated thunderstorms in the east, clearing.
Isolated showers and drizzle elsewhere. Mild to warm and humid.
Sunday:    Isolated showers and drizzle across the southeast. Isolated
thunderstorms in the east. Mild to warm and humid.
Monday:    Local early fog. Afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms over
central and eastern areas. Warm to hot and humid.
Forecast for Melbourne
Tonight and Friday
Rain periods overnight and during the morning, then tending to a few showers
later in the day. Light to moderate north to northeasterly winds, gradually
easing then tending south to southwesterly later.                
Min 18    Max 25
Saturday
A few showers.                              Min 19    Max 27
Sunday
Shower or two clearing.                     Min 18    Max 27
Monday
Afternoon showers and thunderstorms about the north otherwise fine.    Min 17   
Max 32
Trend for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Generally milder with a shower or two
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Tonight and Friday: East to southeasterly at 10 to 15 knots tending
northeasterly tonight, 10 to 15 knots in the north and 15 to 20 knots in the
south. Northeast to northerly wind Friday of 10 to 15 knots shifting southwest
to southerly at a similar strength later in the day. Waves around half a metre
rising up to 1 metre. 
Saturday:  East to southeasterly winds of 10 to 15 knots. Afternoon seabreezes
to 20 knots.
Sunday:    Southeasterly winds of 10 to 15 knots. Afternoon seabreezes to 20
knots.
Monday:    Northeast to northerly wind 10 to 15 knots shifting southerly later. 
Headline Melbourne: Rain easing during the day. 

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STAT News Service

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