Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Apr 23/09 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

for the period until midnight EST Monday 27 April 2009.
Warning Summary at issue time
Gale warning for Victorian waters between SA-VIC Border and Port Campbell.
Strong wind warning for Victorian waters between Port Campbell and 60nm east of
Gabo Island.
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 cold front is approaching western Victoria and will move across most of the
State during Friday. A stronger cold front well south of the Bight will move
across Victoria late Saturday and during Sunday, while a low pressure system
will develop near Tasmania and then intensify as it moves eastwards just south
of Victoria. The low will then move away to the southeast across the Tasman Sea
during Monday.
Forecast for the rest of Thursday
Cloud increasing with rain areas developing in the west this evening.
Freshening north to northeast winds becoming strong from the west and south.
Forecast for Friday
Rain areas and isolated thunderstorms contracting eastwards across the State
ahead of a change and clearing from the far east in the evening. Fresh to
strong north to northwest winds shifting west to southwesterly from the west
during the day. Isolated showers persisting on and south of the divide behind
the change.
Maximum Fire Danger: High before the onset of rain.
Forecast for Saturday
Showers increasing from the west, tending to rain areas in the southwest and
along the ranges. Isolated thunderstorms and hail possible in the southwest
later. Moderate to fresh northwest to westerly winds turning colder and squally
west to southwest in the west later.
Forecast for Sunday
Rain about the east ranges and coastal areas, while scattered showers
persisting elsewhere mainly south of the divide. Local hail and thunder mainly
on and south of the divide. Strong west to northwesterly winds, reaching gale
force at times, shifting colder, strong and squally southwesterly during the
morning. Snow developing on the ranges above 1000 metres.
Forecast for Monday
Morning frost patches in the north. Isolated showers on an south of the ranges,
increasing during the day. Cool to cold with fresh to strong southwest winds in
the southeast at first, moderating and tending northwest during the day.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 5:00 am EST Friday.
* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or
public phones.

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STAT News Service