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Bass Strait and approaches Forecast

UPDATED

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tasmania

Bass Strait and approaches forecast
Issued at 05:11 pm EST on Friday 16 May 2008
valid until midnight on Monday

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

UPDATED

Synoptic Situation
A cold front over western Bass Strait will cross remaining coastal waters tonight and Saturday. A low pressure system will develop over the Tasman Sea during Sunday, and a high pressure system will develop over south Australia on Monday.

UPDATED
Victorian Central Coast, Cape Otway to Wilsons Promontory:
A strong wind warning is current.
Friday until midnight:  Northerly wind of 20/30 knots, shifting westerly at 20/25 knots tonight. Sea 2 to 3 metres. West to southwest swell 1 to 2 metres.
Saturday:  West to northwesterly wind 20/25 knots easing to 15/20 knots early morning then shifting south to southwesterly at 20/30 knots during the afternoon. Sea abating to 1 to 2 metres early morning then rising 2 to 3 metres following the southwest change. West to southwest swell 1 to 2 metres, 2.5 metres in the far west.
Sunday:  West to southwesterly wind 15/20 knots, tending west to northwesterly at night. Sea 1.5 to 2 metres. West to southwest swell 1.5 to 2.5 metres.
Monday:  Westerly winds 20/30 knots, shifting southwesterly in the afternoon and easing to 15/20 knots at night. Sea 2 to 3 metres abating to 1.5 to 2 metres at night. West to southwest swell 2 to 3 metres.

UPDATED
Victorian East Coast, Wilsons Promontory to 60nm east of Gabo Island:
Friday until midnight:  Northeast to northerly wind of 10/20 knots increasing to 20/25 knots in the far east and offshore. Sea rising 1.5 to 2.5 metres offshore. East/northeast swell around 1 metre. West/southwest swell to 1 metre.
Saturday:  North to Northwesterly wind 15/25 knots shifting west to north westerly from the west during the early morning. A west to southwest change 20/25 knots in the west at night. Sea 1.5 to 2.5 metres. East/northeast swell around 1 metre. West to southwesterly swell rising 1 to 2 metres.
Sunday:  Southwesterly wind 15/25 knots, reaching 30 knots at times offshore. Sea 1.5 to 2.5 metres. West to southwesterly swell 1 to 2 metres. Southeasterly swell 1 to 2 metres developing.
Monday:  West to southwest winds 20/30 knots. West to southwesterly swell 1 to 2 metres. Southeasterly swell 1 to 2 metres.

Tasmanian Far Northwest Coast, Sandy Cape to Stanley and King Island:
A Strong Wind Warning is current.
Friday until midnight:  Northerly winds mostly 15 to 25 knots but reaching 30 knots at times. Seas 2 to 3 metres. Chiefly west to southwest swell to 2 metres.
Saturday:  Mostly southwest to northwest winds 15 to 25 knots, although reaching 30 knots at times later in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 metres. West to southwest swell 1 to 2 metres, building to 2 to 3 metres by evening.
Sunday:  West to southwest winds 15 to 25 knots, tending west to northwest late. Seas to 2 metres. West to southwest swell 2 to 3 metres.
Monday:  West to northwest winds 20 to 30 knots, tending more westerly late. Seas 2 to 3 metres. West to southwest swell 2 to 3 metres, building to 3 to 4 metres.

Tasmanian Central North Coast, Stanley to the Northern Tip of Flinders Is:
Friday until midnight:  Northerly winds 15 to 20 knots, 25 knots at times. Seas to 2 metres. Confused swell to 1 metre.
Saturday:  Mostly northwest to westerly winds 10 to 20 knots, reaching 25 knots at first, ahead of a late west to southwest change at 10 to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 metres. Confused swell to 1 metre.
Sunday:  Southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Seas to 2 metres. Westerly swell to 1 metre.
Monday:  West to northwest winds 20 to 30 knots, tending more westerly late. Seas 2 to 3 metres. Westerly swell to 1 metre.

Tasmania Banks Strait and Franklin Sound:
Friday until midnight:  Northerly winds 15 to 25 knots. Seas 2 metres. Confused swell below 1 metre, building.
Saturday:  North to northwest winds mostly 15 to 25 knots, tending west to northwest in the afternoon at similar speeds. Seas to 2 metres. Confused swell to 1 metre.
Sunday:  West to southwest winds 15 to 25 knots. Seas to 2 metres. Confused swell to 1 metre.
Monday:  Westerly winds 20 to 30 knots. Seas 2 to 3 metres. Confused swell to 1 metre.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 5:05 am EST Saturday.