Bureau of Meteorology Outlines Preparations for Australia’s Severe Weather Season

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has outlined its operations and guidance for the country's peak severe weather season, which runs from October to April. The agency emphasized the potential for rapid weather developments that can threaten lives and property, disrupt essential services, and isolate communities.

Ahead of and during the season, the Bureau monitors weather and climate conditions to supply forecasts and warnings to governments, emergency management agencies, and the public. In preparing for the 2026 spring bushfire season, BOM collaborated with fire and emergency services to identify areas of heightened bushfire risk and supported community campaigns, including Get Ready Queensland.

The agency also highlighted the upcoming tropical cyclone season, which officially spans from 1 November to 30 April. According to the Bureau, an average of nine tropical cyclones have occurred in the Australian region each season since 2000, with the first landfall typically occurring in late December. Historical records note a peak of 18 cyclones during the 1983–84 season and a low of three in 2015–16, with the north-west coast between Broome and Exmouth in Western Australia identified as the nation's most cyclone-prone region.

During active severe weather events, BOM operates continuously alongside emergency service agencies. Meteorologists and hydrologists are deployed directly into state and national disaster management centres to supply real-time weather and water data to decision-makers. The agency also disseminates information via media partners, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), as well as through its website, app, and social media channels.

The Bureau advised residents in prone regions to prepare in advance by understanding local weather risks, establishing emergency plans, and monitoring official warnings.

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