IDW12300
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

Perth Forecast
Issued at 11:35 am WST on Thursday 18 March 2010

Warning summary
Nil.


Forecast for Thursday 
Some high cloud, but remaining mostly sunny. Moderate to fresh S/SW winds.

Precis:      Mostly sunny.                      
City:        Max 26 
Mandurah:    Max 27 

UV Alert:    9:10 am to 3:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]  
Fire Danger: Coastal Plain: VERY HIGH   
             Hills:         HIGH        

Forecast for Friday   
Some high cloud. Light to moderate S/SE winds tending moderate to fresh S/SW'ly
in the afternoon.

Precis:      High cloud.                        
City:        Min 15     Max 28
Mandurah:    Min 17     Max 26

Saturday     Sunny.                                 Min 16     Max 30
Sunday       Cloud increasing.                      Min 17     Max 33
Monday       Chance of a thunderstorm.              Min 20     Max 30
Tuesday      Cloudy periods.                        Min 19     Max 31
Wednesday    Partly cloudy.                         Min 19     Max 30

The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:30 pm WST Thursday.

IDW11400
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

Local Waters Forecast
Yanchep to Mandurah and Offshore to Rottnest Island
Issued at 11:30 am WST on Thursday 18 March 2010
Valid until midnight Saturday

Please Be Aware
Wind gusts can be 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum
wave may be up to twice the height.

Warnings
Strong Wind Warning issued.

Synoptic Situation
A ridge of high pressure has developing across the south of the State and will
persist for the coming days.

Forecasts:
Thursday until midnight: S/SW winds 20/30 knots tending 15/20 knots inshore for
till early afternoon. Seas 1.5m to 2.0m. Swell to 2.0m.
Swell at Cottesloe:  to 0.7m.
Winds on Melville Water: Up to 5 knots lighter.

Friday: SE winds 10/15 knots, reaching S/SE 15/20 knots offshore at first. Winds
shifting S/SW 18/23 knots in the afternoon. Seas 1.0 to 1.5m. Swell to 2.5m.

Saturday: SE winds 10/15 knots, reaching S/SE 15/20 knots offshore for a period
early morning. Winds shifting S/SW winds 15/20 knots in the afternoon.

Current Swell Observations:
Rottnest Waverider Buoy:  1.6m.
Cottesloe Waverider Buoy: 0.6m.

Current swell height information is supplied by the Department of Transport and
is current only at the time of issue of this forecast

The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:30 pm WST Thursday.

IDW10300
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Issued at 4:55am WST on Thursday the 18th of March 2010

SYNOPTIC SITUATION AND FORECAST EXPLANATION:
A high pressure ridge lies south of the state with a surface trough continuing
to develop over western parts of the state. Sunny conditions over most parts of
the SW Land Division away from the south coast. Some isolated light showers are
possible along the south coast west of Albany towards Thursday evening as a weak
cold front passes south of the state.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the eastern Eucla and
southeast Interior, clearing the Eucla Thursday morning. Thunderstorm activity
will also continue through the southern and western Interior, northern Gascoyne,
Pilbara and west Kimberley, mostly afternoon and evening.  
Isolated afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms are likely near the
west Kimberley coast, the Pilbara, inland Gascoyne, SW Interior and Eucla over 
the outlook period.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS:
Isolated showers should continue near the south coast west of Albany on Friday
in the onshore flow. The surface trough will deepen inland on Friday, and is
expected to trigger isolated afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms
over the central and eastern parts of the state including the eastern Central
Wheat Belt and the Southeast Coastal district, with showers and thunderstorm
activity continuing in these parts on Saturday. Also on Saturday areas of
drizzle or light showers will extend along the south coast and Eucla coast in
the onshore E/SE flow as a new ridge of high pressure builds south of the state.
  
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop over much of the SW
Land Division and Goldfields on Sunday afternoon and evening as a surface trough
develops near the west coast and a middle level disturbance approaches from the
west. Some areas of drizzle are also likely along the south coast and Eucla
coast.  

IDW17250
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

INTERSTATE CITIES PRECIS FORECAST
Issued at 2:26pm WST on Thursday the 18th of March 2010
for tonight and Friday   

                Min  Max  Weather
Adelaide        21    31    Becoming fine early.
Hobart          15    25    Rain easing.
Melbourne       22    29    Shower or two.
Canberra        13    28    Mostly sunny.
Sydney          17    28    Fine. Mostly sunny.
Brisbane        19    28    Mostly fine.
Cairns          22    31    Few showers
Darwin          25    34    Fine, mostly sunny.
Alice Springs   18    32    Fine and sunny.
Perth           15    28    High cloud.