Melbourne – Launceston Melbourne – Hobart Race weather forecast December 2005 Jon Gill Supervisor, Victorian Forecast Centre, BoM Melbourne – Launceston Melbourne – Hobart

Latest analysis 5am EDST, Tuesday 27th December

Prognosis 11am EDST, Wednesday 28th December

Prognosis 11am EDST, Thursday 29th December

Prognosis 11am EDST, Friday 30th December

Forecast 9.20am Update A gale warning has been issued. Tuesday until midnight:  Northeasterly winds 10/15 knots increasing to 20/30 knots tonight. Afternoon seabreezes 10/20 knots near the coast. Seas around 1 metre rising to 2 to 3 metres offshore tonight. West to southwesterly swell 1 to 2 metres. Isolated thunderstorms overnight producing stronger squalls and reducing visibility below 3nm. Wednesday:  North/northeast winds 20/30 knots shifting north/northwesterly 20/30 knots then west/southwesterly at 30/35 knots in the early morning. Winds easing to 20/25 knots during the afternoon and further easing to 10/20 knots at night and tending west/northwest. Seas 2 to 4 metres abating to 1 to 2 metres at night. West to southwesterly swell 1.5 to 2 metres. Isolated thunderstorms at first producing stronger squalls and reducing visibility below 3nm. Thursday:  Northwesterly winds 15/20 knots easing to 10/15 knots later and afternoon seabreezes developing. Seas 1 to 2 metres. West/southwest swell 1 to 2 metres.

Forecast Tuesday until midnight:  Northerly winds increasing to 10 to 20 knots at first, tending northeasterly this afternoon and increasing further to 15 to 25 knots tonight, locally 30 knots. Seas rising to 2 to 3 metres. West to southwest swell 2 to 3 metres decreasing. Wednesday:  West to northwest winds 25 to 35 knots, easing to 20 to 30 knots late morning. Seas mostly 3 to 4 metres. West to southwest swell rising to 3 to 4 metres. Thursday:  West to northwesterly winds at 20 to 30 knots. Seas rising to around 3 metres. West to southwest swell around 3 metres.

Forecast Tuesday until midnight:  North to northwesterly winds 10 to 20 knots, tending northeasterly during the day at similar speeds, then easterly tonight at 15 to 25 knots. Seas mostly 1 to 2 metres. Westerly swell decreasing to below 1 metre. Wednesday:  Northwest to westerly winds 25 to 35 knots developing early, easing to 20 to 30 knots through the afternoon and to 15 to 25 knots in the evening. Seas around 3 metres, abating. Westerly swell 1 to 2 metres. Thursday:  West to northwesterly winds at 20 to 30 knots. Seas rising to around 3 metres. Westerly swell 1 to 2 metres

Forecast A Strong Wind Warning is current. Tuesday until midnight:  Northwest to northerly winds 10 to 20 knots, increasing to 20 to 30 knots this afternoon before tending north to northeasterly this evening at similar speeds. Seas rising to 2 to 3 metres. West to southwest swell around 3 metres. Wednesday:  Westerly winds 25 to 35 knots developing early, easing to 20 to 30 knots during the morning then gradually tending northwesterly. Seas 2 to 4 metres. West to southwest swell rising to 3 to 4 metres. Thursday:  Northwesterly winds at 20 to 30 knots, locally 35 knots at times. Seas 4 to 5 metres. West to southwest swell 3 to 4 metres decreasing.

Forecast A Strong Gale Warning is current. Tuesday until midnight:  Northwesterly winds 20 to 30 knots, reaching 35 knots at times offshore and near Maatsuyker Island, tending more northerly this afternoon at 15 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 3 metres. West to southwest swell around 3 metres. Wednesday:  Winds shifting westerly early at 25 to 35 knots before gradually tending northwesterly through the day at similar speeds, possibly 40 knots at times in the far southwest. Seas 3 to 4 metres. West to southwest swell 3 to 4 metres. Thursday:  Northwesterly winds at 30 to 40 knots, locally 45 knots at times. Seas 4 to 6 metres. West to southwest swell 3 to 4 metres decreasing.

Forecast Tuesday until midnight:  Northwesterly winds 10 to 20 knots, tending northeasterly in the afternoon and increasing to 20 to 30 knots offshore and east of Tasman Island tonight. Seas 1 to 2 metres, rising later. West to southwest swell 2 to 3 metres abating. Wednesday:  North to northeasterly winds 20 to 30 knots, locally 35 knots offshore, shifting westerly 25 to 35 knots early. Winds easing to 15 to 25 knots later, still 30 knots at times offshore, and tending northwesterly. Seas around 3 metres in open waters abating later. West to southwest swell 3 to 4 metres offshore. Thursday:  Northwesterly winds at 20 to 30 knots, locally 35 knots at times. Seas 4 to 6 metres offshore. West to southwest swell 3 to 4 metres decreasing.

Wind change

Remember Wind Wave Height Average over 10 minutes, at 10 metres height above surface Wave Height