Tropical Cyclone Warning Services

Introduction

This section provides information on the warnings services for tropical cyclones that are provided to the public by the Bureau. The information includes the types of warnings that are issued, when and where they are issued and samples of the individual warnings.

Tropical cyclone services

• Tropical cyclone seasonal outlook
  Issued at the beginning of the season to provide an estimate of the level of tropical cyclone activity in the coming season.
• Tropical cyclone outlook
  Issued 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
  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 
  Issued if a cyclone is expected to affect coastal communities within 48 hours, but not expected within 24 hours.
• Tropical cyclone warning
  Issued if a cyclone is affecting or is expected to affect coastal communities within 24 hours.
• Technical summary
  The Tropical Cyclone Technical Summary provides technical details about the cyclone.
• Tropical cyclone forecast track map
  Issued 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 are issued for high seas and coastal waters threatened by cyclones.

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

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Bureau tropical cyclone service areas

Tropical cyclones develop over tropical waters around Australia during the warmer months, mostly November to April.  The Bureau 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.

Australian areas

Australia's area of responsibility for cyclone services is divided between three Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): Perth, Darwin and Brisbane. The Darwin centre also provides warning services for the sea area, indicated with a darker blue, to the north of Australia.

International areas

The areas of responsibility for the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and other global cyclone warning centres are shown in the following map.
Details: Global cyclone warning centres

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