Date: 22/11/2008
Breaking Weather News - Victoria braces for a wet weekend...
Paddy Aicken, 21 November 2008A low forecast to develop off the coast of eastern Victoria over the
weekend is set to bring widespread rain, strong winds and even alpine snow.
After a series of troughs have passed across the north, leaving Victoria relatively unaffected, a deep low pressure system is now developing in eastern Bass Straight. This low will generate near gale strength winds along much of the south east coast, blowing moist air onshore and causing heavy rain.
Over 100 millimetres of rain has been forecast to fall during Saturday and Sunday in West, South and East Gippsland. If Sale receives 100mm it will be their highest two day rainfall accumulation in four years. Similarly if Bairnsdale receives 100mm it will be their highest accumulation in one and a half years.
Associated with this low will be very low temperatures which will allow the heavy rain over the Alps to fall as snow. Across the Alps, resorts are forecast to receive up to 50cm, with snow falling to below 1200 metres.
The low pressure system should move away to the east on Monday, allowing wind and rain to ease during the evening.
Breaking Weather News - Storms and heavy rain in southwest WA
Paddy Aicken, 21 November 2008Last night thunderstorms resulted in falls of over 100 millimetres along Western Australia's far south coast.
A low pressure system, in combination with a near stationary trough resulted in record rainfalls. Albany recorded 114 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9am. This incredibly heavy fall was a new record at a site which dates back to 1907.
Nearby, King River received 110 millimetres, which was their heaviest fall in twenty-six years.
The heaviest recorded fall was however at Peaceful Bay were 126 millimetres was recorded, which was their heaviest recorded rain fall since the station was opened in 1994.
Many other places nearby received well over 50 millimetres. Denmark received 66mm, their heaviest fall in 7 years, while Cheyne Beach recorded 53 millimetres their best fall in six months.
As the low pressure system is set to remain near the coast for the next couple of days it is likely more heavy falls will be recorded before the end of the weekend.
Breaking Weather News - Gales coming for southeast
Jessica Trevena, 21 November 2008Extremely cold air is moving north from the Southern Ocean, colliding with warm, humid air over VIC and spinning up a deep low.
The low will bring gales to much of the southeast this weekend, with coastal and higher parts of VIC and TAS already experiencing gusts in excess of 80km/h.
The low is continuing to intensify with wind gusts well in excess of 100km/h likely over the alpine regions of TAS, VIC and NSW tonight.
Even about low ground, gusts of 100km/h are likely for coastal regions of eastern VIC, with storm force winds - averaging close to 90km/h - possible.
A Severe Weather Warning is already current for most of VIC and for southeast parts of NSW.
The period of strongest winds for southeastern VIC, including Melbourne, is likely to be during Saturday, before the low drifts very slowly northeast. Southeast NSW will then feel the brunt of the winds with gusts over 90km/h likely as far north as Sydney on Sunday.
Winds won't ease significantly until Monday, when the low moves away over the Tasman Sea.
based on data from
