Australia -- Victoria Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Dec 9/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Western Australia was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warnings
A strong wind warning is current for all Victorian coastal waters, for Port
Phillip and Western Port, and for the Gippsland Lakes.  
The land wind warning has been finalised for the Central and North Central
districts.
Weather Pattern
A low pressure trough will move eastwards across the State today as a low
pressure system moves from the Bight to south of Tasmania. A weak ridge of high
pressure will then develop across Victoria on Thursday. Another trough of low
pressure will move across Victoria during Friday. A high pressure system will
move into the Bight later on Saturday.
Victoria
Wednesday: A milder northwest to southwest change over the western half of the
state extending to the east today and tonight. Hot ahead of the change, with
fresh to locally strong northerly winds. Isolated showers and thunderstorms
developing near and ahead of the change, particularly about the eastern ranges.
Isolated drizzle developing about the west coast later. 
Fire Danger Wednesday: Generally High to Very High, but Very High to Extreme in
the northwest. 
UV Index: 10 [Very High] decreasing to 4 [Moderate] under cloud.
Thursday:  Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the east. Isolated showers also
in the southwest. Mild to warm.
Friday:    Isolated afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms in the east.
Scattered showers developing in western and central districts. Generally mild to
warm.
Saturday:  Isolated showers in the south. Mild. 
Forecast for Melbourne
Wednesday
A thundery shower or two clearing during the afternoon and a fresh and gusty
north to northwesterly wind shifting cooler southerly.  
Max 30 ahead of the change.
Thursday
Fine. Sunny periods.                        Min 14    Max 23
Friday
Few showers later.                          Min 13    Max 26
Saturday
Shower or two, clearing.                    Min 12    Max 22
Trend for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Becoming fine and warmer. 
Forecast for Port Phillip and Western Port
Wednesday: Northwesterly winds 15 to 25 knots ahead of a southwest to southerly
change of 20 to 25 knots by early afternoon. Wind moderating to about 10 knots
tonight. Waves 1 to 2 metres abating to less than a metre tonight. A strong wind
warning is current. 
Thursday:  Northwesterly wind 10 to 15 knots, locally reaching 20 knots, and
shifting southwest to southerly at 15 to 20 knots during the afternoon. Waves
rising to 1 metre. 
Friday:    Northwesterly wind of 15 to 20 knots ahead of a southwesterly change
of 20 to 25 knots during the afternoon. 
Saturday:  Southwest to southerly wind of 10 to 20 knots.  
Headline Melbourne: Cool change.

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STAT News Service

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