Past Weather & Climate Information
We provide past weather and climate information from the Bureau's vast Australian climate data archive. Popular historical and statistical information is available freely from Climate Data Online. Further data is available via request to our Data Services team.
Climate Data Online
Our free Climate
Data Online site provides weather, rainfall, temperature and solar exposure history and statistics. These are available as data, tables and graphs for respective Bureau weather stations.See details
Data Requests
Send a Data Request
(opens new window) You can make custom requests for data and analyses. Data requests are charged on a fee-for-service basis.
See details
Other Data Services
- Weather Data Services
Forecasts, Warnings and real-time data including Latest Observations, Satellite, Radar. - Water Information
Station data & Gridded data
| Common Enquiries | See |
|---|---|
| I would like a storm confirmation. | Send a detailed Data Request. |
| I frequently require storm confirmations. | Our registered user storm confirmation service provides summary information for industry use. |
| I have an insurance or legal related enquiry. | Send a detailed Data Request. |
| Where can I find Rainfall Intensity-Frequency-Duration data? (e.g. 1 in 100 year events) | Design Rainfalls |
| What was the weather like on a particular day and location? | Go to: Climate Data Online Select 'Daily weather observations', search for a weather station near the location of interest, click the station dot. Links under the monthly table to go to previous months. |
| More examples - See FAQs |
Weather Station Directory
Find stations which match your requirements
Bureau weather stations differ
in the types and amount of data available.
Charges for weather station data from the Bureau's archive
We are committed to providing as much free data as possible via Climate Data Online. However where data requirements fall outside the Basic Product Set, cost recovery charges are applied. These charges are set according to the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines.
Charges below are GST inclusive.
Category 1 requests - charged at $65
These include most straight forward requests, where you provide the weather station name, site number and relevant supporting information, such as time periods and weather elements. See: Weather Station Directory
Please provide requests for multiple stations in comma-delimited format.
Example
Category 2 requests - $98
These require us to identify the relevant weather station site numbers for you or provide other assistance or advice.
Example
Category 3 requests - Quoted
These are charged on a time and resource basis. They often involve specialised analysis relating to requests for large datasets, mapped products, radar data, model ocean data and model atmospheric data.
Example
Legal statements - from $215
If you need data to be certified for legal proceedings we can provide a Certified Extract.
Quoting and Payment
- You will receive a quote confirming your request details, the cost, and our contact information for payment.
- Payment options: MasterCard, Visa, AMEX, cheque or money order.
- Requests are processed after payment.
- A payment receipt will be supplied with your data.
Example.
Delivery
Category 1 and 2 requests are generally processed within 5 working days of payment.
If your request is urgent, priority handling may be available.
Additional charges are applicable for priority listings. Jobs costing less than $350 incur a $110 fee. For jobs in excess of $350, the fee is 40% of the total cost of the job.
Data files are dispatched via email attachments. Alternatively FTP, DVD, USB or Hard Drive options are available on request.
Australian Climate Data DVDs
We have a range of popular climate data DVDs available.
Please use the Data requests form to send your order.
Weather station data
Rainfall
Wind
EvaporationGridded data
These datasets
can be used in a geographic information
system (GIS) or similar visualisation system. You
can use the GIS to
investigate the data or generate maps.
Rainfall
Temperature
Solar ExposureEvapotranspiration
Vapour pressure
Wave model data (WAM)
Climate of Australia
ISBN:9780642706010
Cost: $64.95 (GST inc. )
Available at bookstores.
Our latest book, Climate of Australia, includes a fully illustrated, comprehensive description of Australia's climate since records began early in the 20th century.
The accompanying CD-ROM contains a full set of monthly climate maps, together with statistical tables from a selection of the Bureau's observation sites.
Climate Books and CDs
Frequently Asked Questions
Many enquiries are for data which are available free, from Climate Data Online. Further station data types listed in the Weather Station Directory are available by request.
Data Enquiries
- I would like a storm confirmation.
- Send a detailed Data Request.
- I frequently require storm confirmations.
- Our registered user storm confirmation service provides summary information for industry use.
- I have an insurance or legal related enquiry.
- Send a detailed Data Request.
- Where can I find rainfall Intensity-Frequency-Duration data? (e.g. 1 in 100 year events)
- Intensity-Frequency-Duration data are available from Design Rainfalls.
- How much, or how often, did it rain near a specific location, during a specific day, month or year?
- Go to: Climate Data Online
Select daily rainfall, search for weather stations near your location, click a station dot, select the year you want. Review the day or month of interest. - What was the weather like on a particular day and location?
- Go to: Climate Data Online
Select 'Daily weather observations', search for a weather station near the location of interest, click the station dot. Links under the monthly table to go to previous months. - I'm planning an event. How can I find out what the weather is normally like on a particular day of the year?
- Go to: Climate Data Online
Select 'Climate calendar', search for a weather station near the location of interest, click the station dot. - Where can I find temperature and rainfall records?
- Go to: Climate Extremes
Technical Questions
- How do I unzip data files?
-
1. Double-click the ZIP file in your email attachment.
2. A window will open to show you the files inside - these are text (.txt) files.
3. Drag each of the .txt files from the window to a location on your computer. - What do the zipped files contain?
-
- The text file containing the word 'Data': holds your requested data. The file is comma separated for importing into your spreadsheet software (e.g. Excel).
- The text file containing the word 'Notes': includes information relating to the file format and quality of the requested data. This file can be opened in word processing software (e.g. Word, Notepad).
- The text file containing the word 'StnDet': includes important information on the recording station (station name, latitude & longitude, elevation & when the station opened). This file can be opened in word processing software (e.g. Word, Notepad). - How can I import .txt files into Microsoft Excel?
-
1. Open Microsoft Excel
2. Select 'File' > 'Open'.
3. In the 'Open' window ensure 'Files of Type' is set to 'All Files'.
4. Navigate to the location where you unzipped your files.
5. Select the text file containing the word 'Data'. Click 'Open'.
6. The 'Text Import Wizard' will appear.
7. In the 'Text Import Wizard Step 1 of 3' choose 'Delimited' then click the 'Next' button.
8. In the 'Text Import Wizard Step 2 of 3' choose 'Comma' then click the 'Next' button.
9. In the 'Text Import Wizard Step 3 of 3' click 'Finish'.
10. The data will now appear in your spreadsheet. - What does 'gridded data' mean?
It is a spatial data format that can be used in GIS applications.
- What can I do with PDF documents?
If you do not already have a PDF reader application, you will need to download one, for example Adobe Reader, to read .pdf documents.
Climate Service Centres
An online data request or enquiry is the best way to contact one of our team of dedicated professionals across Australia.
If you do need to contact us, please find the details of your local office below.
 National Climate CentreSee details |
 New South Wales & ACTSee details |
 Tasmania & AntarcticaSee details |
 QueenslandSee details |
 VictoriaSee details |
 Western AustraliaSee details |
 Northern TerritorySee details |
 South AustraliaSee details |
