Bureau of Meteorology: Tropical Cyclone Warning Services

These pages provide information on the warnings services for tropical cyclones that are provided to the public by the Bureau of Meteorology. The information includes the types of warning that are issued, when and where they are issued and samples of the individual warnings.

Tropical cyclones develop over tropical waters around Australia during the warmer months, mostly November to April.  The Bureau of Meteorology provides warning services for these cyclones.  Warnings are issued for land based communities under threat and for mariners.  Routine outlooks are also issued during the cyclone season. The area of responsibility for the Australian Bureau of Meteorology is shown on this global map.

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Australia's area of responsibility is divided between three Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): Perth, Darwin and Brisbane:

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Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Outlook
This is provided at the beginning of the season to provide an estimate of the level of tropical cyclone activity in the coming season.

Tropical Cyclone Outlook
This is provided daily throughout the tropical cyclone season.  They provide a forecast up to three days in advance of the probability of cyclone development in the seas around Australia. 

Tropical Cyclone Information Bulletin
This bulletin is issued when a cyclone is active in the Australian region, but is not expected to impact land-based communities within 48 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Watch 
This advice is issued if a cyclone is expected to affect coastal communities within 48 hours, but not expected within 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Warning 
This advice is issued if a cyclone is expected to affect coastal communities within 24 hours, or is already affecting the communities.

Technical Summary
The Tropical Cyclone Technical Summary is a formatted text product that provides technical details about the cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Forecast Track Map
This is provided with tropical cyclone advices to give a graphical representation of the cyclone's past track forecast movement and its threat area.

Marine Warnings
Marine warnings will be issued for high seas and coastal waters threatened by cyclones.

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 November 2006