Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 17/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warnings
CFA has declared a day of Total Fire Ban for the North Western, North Eastern,
South Western and Central Total Fire Ban districts for Tuesday 18th March 2003.
A fire weather warning has been issued for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern
Country, North Central, Western and Central districts for Tuesday 18th March
2003.
A strong wind warning has been issued for all Victorian coastal waters and for
Port Phillip and Western Port.
Weather Pattern
A cold front will approach Victoria later Tuesday then move over the State on
Wednesday, with a low pressure system developing over Bass Strait. The low will
then move slowly east to southeastwards during Thursday and Friday.    
Victoria
Tonight and Tuesday: Fine apart from early fog patches in Gippsland. A hot and
mainly sunny day, although some high cloud increasing in the west later.
Northerly wind strengthening from the west ahead of a milder southwest change
about the west coast in the evening.
Fire danger: Generally very high to extreme.
UV Index: 7 [high]  
Wednesday: Change developing with showers and local thunderstorms. Hail likely
near the west coast later. Squally northerly wind shifting westerly and easing.
Thursday:  Showers, mainly on and south of ranges. Hail and thunder, mainly near
coast. Cool.
Friday:    Scattered showers, mainly on and south of the ranges. Cool to mild.
Forecast for Melbourne
Tonight and Tuesday
Fine. A mostly sunny day with a strengthening northerly wind.             
Min 20    Max 33
Wednesday
Showers developing. Milder change.          Min 23    Max 29
Thursday
Showers.                                    Min 13    Max 17
Friday
Few showers.                                Min 12    Max 20
Trend for Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Showers clearing. Becoming warmer.
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Tonight and Tuesday: Northerly wind around 15 knots tonight, but increasing to
20 to 30 knots tomorrow morning. Waves rising 1 to 2 metres. A strong wind
warning has been issued.
Wednesday: Northerly wind of 25 to 30 knots shifting northwest to westerly at 15
to 20 knots late morning.
Thursday:  West to southwesterly wind to around 20 knots.
Friday:    Southwesterly wind 15 to 20 knots.
Headline Melbourne: Fine. Gusty wind.

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STAT News Service

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