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Bureau of Meteorology: Severe Weather Warnings Service Restructure

Introduction

Severe weather warning services have been reorganised, with the new structure being implemented across Australia from 16 November 2004. Some changes were implemented earlier on a trial basis in some states. Warning services related to the following severe weather phenomena have been affected.

Severe thunderstorms
Flash flooding
Land gales & destructive gusts
Damaging surf and storm tides
Blizzards

A brochure has been published advising the community of the changes.

Summary of Changes

* Note that many of the old warnings mentioned below were issued only in a limited number of states. Some of these had similar purposes, but different names in different states.
Phenomenon or event	Old Warning*	New Warning	Comment
Severe Thunderstorm	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	Usually detailed format covering major centres
	Severe Thunderstorm Advice	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	Usually broad-based format
Severe Weather (general)	Severe Weather Advice	Severe Weather Warning
	Severe Weather Warning	Severe Weather Warning	Slight restructure in the states that had been trialling the product.
Gales over land	Land Wind Warning, or Land Gale Warning, or Wind Warning for Land Areas, or Severe Wind Warning	Severe Weather Warning	Similar old warnings; different names in different States
Gales over alpine Areas	Wind Warning for Alpine Areas	Severe Weather Warning
Damaging Wind Gusts	Severe Squall Warning, or Severe Wind Warning	Severe Weather Warning
Storm Tide	Storm Tide Warning Large Wave & Storm Warning	Severe Weather Warning	Limited to specific areas of the coastline where data is available
Dangerous Surf	Large Wave & Storm Warning	Severe Weather Warning	Limited to specific areas of the coastline where data is available
Blizzard	Wind Warning for Alpine Areas	Severe Weather Warning	Old warning was inadequate
East Coast Low	Many warnings at once	Severe Weather Warning	Combines many warnings into one warning
Monsoon Low	Hybrid tropical cyclone warnings or Land Gale Warnings	Severe Weather Warning	These systems often were hard to warn for in the old warning structure

For some complex situations, the Bureau has used a media release to alert the public rather than a warning. Some of these can now be well-handled by the severe weather warning.

Products

Severe Weather Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Education Material

Note that other specialised products are provided to key stakeholders - like emergency service organisations. These generally provide detailed technical information to assist these organisations in planning disaster mitigation strategies.

Return to Main Warnings Information Page

Last updated October 2004

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