Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Climatology | Impacts | Extremes| TCs affecting WA towns | Forecast Accuracy
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Forecasting

3. What types of warning products are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology?

The Bureau of Meteorology's Tropical Cyclone Warning Service consists of:

Tropical Cyclone Outlook statements (issued daily) present 3-day outlooks on possible tropical cyclone development in the Region and surrounding oceans.
Tropical Cyclone Information Bulletins are issued every six hours if a tropical cyclone exists within the Australian region, but is not expected to threaten any coastal or island communities within the next 48 hours. Bulletins include the cyclone's name, current location and its forecast movement.
A Tropical Cyclone Watch is an advice issued every six hours when there are indications that gales or stronger winds are expected to affect coastal or island communities within 48 hours but not within 24 hours. It details the communities expected to be affected and gives a brief estimate of the cyclone's location, intensity, severity category and movement.
A Tropical Cyclone Warning is an advice issued every three hours when there are indications that gales or stronger winds are expected to affect coastal or island communities within 24 hours. As well as information provided in a watch advice, warning advices also inform of expected maximum wind gusts. Forecasts of heavy rainfall, flooding and abnormally high tide are included where necessary. Communities under threat are also advised to take precautions necessary to safeguard their lives and property. When a cyclone is under radar surveillance close to the coast, hourly advices may be issued.
The general name given to Tropical Cyclone Watch or Warning messages is an Advice or Tropical Cyclone Advice. A tropical cyclone advice is prefixed "FLASH" when it is the first warning to a community not previously alerted by a cyclone watch. It is also issued when major changes are made to the previous warning due, for example, to unexpected movement towards the coast or rapid intensification.

Tropical Cyclone Track and Threat Maps are designed to visually complement information contained in watch and warning advices. They show the past track of the cyclone, with distinctive colours or shades to depict watch and warning zones, and areas of:
Very destructive winds (gusts > 170 km/h);
Destructive winds (gusts > 125 km/h); and
Gales (gusts > 90 km/h).

In addition there are a number of Marine forecasts and warnings available .