Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

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

Warnings
Gale Warnings current for Victorian coastal waters east of Cape Otway. Strong
wind warnings are current for Victorian coastal waters west of Cape Otway, for
Port Phillip and Western Port and for the Gippsland Lakes.
A wind warning is current for the Central, West and South Gippsland and East
Gippsland districts.
Weather Pattern
A low pressure system will drift slowly southeast to lie just east of Tasmania
Thursday night and Friday before it moves slowly away to the east on the
weekend. A high pressure system will develop well south of the Bight by
Saturday.      
Victoria
Thursday:  Further showers today, more widespread south of the divide and
tending to rain in Gippsland and central parts. The risk of hail and thunder
contracting to the southeast. Fresh northwest to southwesterly winds, reaching
gale force at times in the southeast.
UV Index: 8 [Very high] decreasing to 3 [moderate] under cloud.  
Friday:    Scattered showers on and south of the ranges. Fine in the north. Cool
to mild.
Saturday:  Showers in the south becoming more isolated. Fine in the north. Cool
to mild.
Sunday:    Isolated showers in the south clearing. Fine in the north. Cool to
mild.
Forecast for Melbourne
Thursday
A mainly cloudy day with a few showers and a fresh west to southwesterly wind.
Max 17
Friday
Few showers.                                Min 12    Max 20
Saturday
Shower or two.                              Min 12    Max 20
Sunday
Becoming fine.                              Min 12    Max 23
Trend for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Fine. Becoming warmer.
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Thursday:  West to southwesterly winds at 20 to 25 knots. Waves 1 to 2 metres. A
strong wind warning is current.
Friday:    Southwesterly winds of 15 to 20 knots.
Saturday:  South to southwesterly winds of 10 to 15 knots, locally 20 knots in
the afternoon.
Sunday:    South to southeasterly winds 10 to 15 knots.
Headline Melbourne: Few showers. 
Headline Victoria:  Showers or rain areas, mainly in south. Cooler gusty

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STAT News Service

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