IDA00V00

BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
VICTORIAN REGIONAL OFFICE

Notes on the Weather for Victoria
Issued at 1630 on Thursday the 22nd of March 2001

Recent Events
A low pressure system was situated over Eastern Bass Strait during the day.
Northerly winds over the Central District in the morning turned southwesterly
early afternoon. Winds in the north of the state were light to moderate but were
stronger in the south. Southerly winds gusted to 41 knots [ 77 kph], at Aireys
Inlet and northerly winds gusted to 37 knots [ 70 kph] at Wilsons Promontory.

Substantial rain occurred across the state during the 24 hours to 9am with
useful amounts received in all districts. Amounts graded from around 10mm  in
the north and northwest to about 20mm in the west, to upwards of 30mm in many
parts of the Central Districts. Heavier falls were 62mm at Geelong, 46mm at
Trentham, 45mm at Blackwood and Avalon, and 42mm at Ballan. After 9 am a rain
band became established on a north/south line through Melbourne with an emphasis
on the northern and western suburbs. Very heavy falls were experienced  and in
the case of Melbourne Airport the total to 3 pm of 98.8mm was higher than the
previous highest 24 hour total for March since records commenced there in 1970.
At Laverton 91.2mm fell in the same period and this also exceeded the previous
24 hour highest for March. In the Melbourne CBD the 6 hour figure of 41.8mm to 3
pm was higher than any 24 hour fall in March since 1970.

Overnight temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees below average in the
westerm half of the state and 5 to 7 below in the east. It got down to zero in
Alpine areas but away from there the coldest was Strathbogie with 3 degrees
followed by Noojee with 4 degrees.

Cool conditions were experienced across the state today with maximum
temperatures well below average everywhere, especially in the northeast where
departures were as great as 14 degrees. The mercury struggled  to reach 1 degree
at Mt Hotham but elsewhere maxima were mostly in the mid teens. Highest recorded
temperature today was 22 degrees which occurred at Kerang, Bairnsdale, Lakes
entrance, Mallacoota, and Orbost.

In Melbourne the temperature ranged from a minimum of 11.1 degrees at 4.15 am to
16.9 degrees at 3.50 pm.
There was 6.4m of rain in the city gauge at 9 am and a further 41.8mm fell in
the 6 hours to 3 pm.

Explanatory Notes
A complex area of low pressure over southeastern Australia will consolidate into
a deep low pressure system  over eastern Bass Strait overnight before moving to
the southeast of Tasmania later Friday. During Saturday another deepening low
pressure system and associated cold front will approach Victoria from south of
South Australia. A west to southwest airstream will develop over Victoria during
Sunday as that low moves south of Tasmania with moderation of the stream
expected on Monday.