Bureau of Meteorology: Ocean Wind Warning

Warnings to shipping on the High Seas are issued whenever gale, storm or hurricane-force winds are expected.

The initial warning attempts to provide around 24 hours lead-time and warnings are normally renewed every six hours.

Ocean Wind Warnings contain the following information:

• Issue Time
• Warning Information Section
• Information about gusts and maximum wave height
• Situation
  • Description of weather systems generating the warning conditions with latitude and longitude coordinates
• Area Affected
  • Boundary of warning in latitude and longitude coordinates
• Forecast
  • Details in winds and seas in the affected areas
• Issuing office

A sample of an Ocean Wind Warning follows:

Sample Ocean Wind Warning

Ocean Wind Warnings are issued by Regional Offices of the Bureau of Meteorology in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. See map below for areas of responsibility.

Ocean wind warnings are issued for ocean areas inside about 80 degrees east to 160 degrees east and the Equator to 50 degrees south. See map below.

For weather forecasts and warnings broadcast under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) the world's oceans are divided into 16 areas of responsibility called "Metareas". The Bureau of Meteorology is responsible for forecasts and warnings for Metarea 10.

Return to Main Warnings Information Page

Last updated November 2004