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The Victorian Storm Spotter Network

An important component of the Severe Thunderstorm Warning Service is a network of volunteer Storm Spotters who provide "on-the-spot" information on damaging storms.

Storm Spotters logo

Severe Storm Spotters are people drawn from all walks of life including the fire & emergency services, educational institutions, rural industries and the general public. Spotters report on a freecall telephone number direct to our forecasting office in Melbourne and/or by lodging report sheets. Spotters supplement the Bureau's existing network of weather stations and cooperative observers. The information they provide has a tremendous impact on the Bureau's services, allowing us to verify warnings, calibrate weather radars during actual events and improve our understanding of the frequency and distribution of these storms across Victoria. There are currently around 700 Storm Spotters active in Victoria.

Duties of Spotters

In the event of observing a severe thunderstorm or on hearing about damaging thunderstorms in their general area, spotters are requested to:

  • phone the Bureau on a freecall number as soon as the storm has passed
  • fill in and post (free) a report card to the Bureau.

Reports take less than 5 minutes to complete. Spotters in rural areas also assist by forwarding local newspaper clippings that we would not otherwise see in Melbourne.

Storm Spotters are asked to report to the Bureau of Meteorology if they observe, or hear of:

Hail - 2 cm diameter ($2.00 coin size) or larger

Damaging winds - 90 km/h or greater (e.g. trees snapped, uprooted, large branches down, tiles or roofing lifted, structural damage to well constructed buildings)

Tornadoes - rotating funnel-shaped clouds extending to or near ground level

Very heavy rainfall - around 40mm per hour, or "flash" flooding of low lying areas

The Bureau provides comprehensive training material to all new spotters. They also receive the "Watcher" newsletter twice yearly which contains articles on severe thunderstorms and further training material.

Please note that safety is always more important than reporting and that the Bureau does not authorise and will not be liable for the consequences of your taking risks to your safety when performing any of your tasks.

How to join the Spotter Network

If you would like to join our spotter network, are 18 years of age or older and a resident of Victoria, please complete the spotter application form and post to the address below. We will notify you as soon as possible on the success of your application. 

Spotters should on no account, put themselves in a position of risk to their safety and the Bureau expects you to observe and report on a thunderstorm from a position of safety. The Bureau strongly disapproves of and does not authorise risky conduct such as chasing storms.

Bureau of Meteorology, VRO
Severe Weather Section

Reply Paid 1636  Melbourne 8060

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