About latest weather observations
When you use our website or app to check temperature or wind speed, you're accessing a record of weather that has happened – it has been observed. Recorded weather data are called 'observations'.
This page explains how we present observations for today and the past 72 hours. For information about flood observations, see the rainfall and flood map notes.
Find latest weather observations
To see latest observations at weather stations in your state or territory, view the Past tab on the state or territory page:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- Western Australia
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Australian Capital Territory
- Northern Territory.
To view observations for 72 hours at your town or place, search for the location. On the location page, select the Past tab.
Headings and labels – definitions
This table explains headings and labels we use for latest observations on this website. Also see our Glossary.
| Heading or label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Date/time | Date and time at the weather station, when the observation is recorded. |
| Delta-T | Wet Bulb Depression (Air Temperature – Wet Bulb Temperature). This indicates evaporation rate and droplet lifetime. The agricultural sector uses Delta-T to determine acceptable spray conditions. |
| Dew point | Temperature to which air must cool for dew to form. Expressed in degrees Celsius. |
| Feels like, App temp | Apparent temperature taking into account the effects of humidity and wind speed, in degrees Celsius. |
| Gust | Highest wind gust in the past 30 minutes, measured over 3 seconds. |
| Highest overnight minimum | Highest overnight minimum temperature across the state, territory or district. Measured from 6 pm to 9 am and expressed in degrees Celsius. May differ from temperatures in the Bureau's climate records, which are measured from 9 am to 9 am. |
| Highest temperature | Daytime high temperature, in degrees Celsius, from 6 am to 9 pm. The time presented with the data shows when the highest temperature was recorded. May differ from maximum temperatures in the Bureau's climate records, which are measured from 9 am to 9 am. |
| Highest wind gust | Maximum wind gust for today, measured since midnight. |
| Humidity, Rel hum | Relative humidity. The amount of moisture as a percentage of the amount that the air can hold. |
| Lowest daytime maximum | Lowest daytime maximum temperature across the state or district, measured from 6 am to 9 pm. Expressed in degrees Celsius. May differ from temperatures in the Bureau's climate records, which are measured from 9 am to 9 am. |
| Lowest temperature | Overnight low temperature in degrees Celsius, from 6 pm to 9 am. The time presented with the data shows when the lowest temperature was recorded. May differ from minimum temperatures in the Bureau's climate records, which are measured from 9 am to 9 am. |
| Pressure, Press MSL | Mean sea level pressure (MSLP). Weight of the atmosphere above a point (reduced to mean sea level) in hectopascals. |
| Press QNH | QNH pressure is used by pilots to set the altimeter of their aircraft. The calculation from station level pressure to QNH pressure is based on conditions specified by the International Standard Atmosphere model. QNH pressure relates closely to mean sea level pressure (MSLP) at low elevations. It can vary significantly from MSLP at high elevations. |
| Rain, Rain since midnight | Total rain since midnight, measured in millimetres, in increments of 0.2 mm. |
| Rain since 9 am | Precipitation since 9 am. Generally reported in increments of 0.2 mm but sometimes only known to the nearest whole millimetre. Amounts less than 0.2 mm but more than zero are reported as 0.1 mm at manual stations. |
| Rainfall | Total rain measured in the past hour, shown in millimetres, in increments of 0.2 mm. |
| Temperature, Temp | Ambient temperature – temperature of the air. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius. |
| Weather station | Name of the observation station. |
| Wind (Spd, Dir) | Average wind speed and direction over the past 10 minutes. Direction is relative to True North, expressed as one of 16 compass points, from which the wind is blowing. |
Collecting weather data
To learn about observing equipment and weather stations, see our Radar and equipment knowledge centre.
Automatic weather stations generally report once a minute. This data is presented as 30-minute observations on our website.
Manual observations are typically daily. At most manual weather stations, observers report data once a day at 9 am. A few report more often and at other times.
Ensuring weather data quality
The Bureau has stringent quality processes. These include:
- design and engineering to ensure observations equipment works in all Australian environments
- equipment checks in a certified laboratory
- regular verification checks on installed equipment.
Our metrology laboratory tests and calibrates equipment used to measure weather and climate. The laboratory has international accreditation for temperature, pressure and electrical measurement (ISO 17025). Work is in progress to extend this to other measurements.
Incorrect or missing data
Latest observations show in real time, which makes the data available for immediate use. Limited checks are made. It is possible for incorrect values to appear, which may be reviewed later as part of ongoing quality control processes.
If weather data is missing, it is because we have not received it. For example, due to an outage caused by a lightning strike on equipment. When data is not recorded, we cannot provide an observation.