October to April is the peak time for severe weather in Australia. Severe weather can develop quickly. It can threaten lives and property, disrupt essential services and isolate communities.
Planning for what's ahead
Our work starts well before the severe weather season arrives.
We monitor Australia's weather and climate and provide forecasts to help communities, governments and emergency services understand the conditions ahead.
We work closely with emergency management agencies and with governments across Australia to provide climate information, forecasts and warnings to help them plan and prepare.
Our experts also provide weather and climate briefings to support planning activities for the season. For the 2026 spring bushfire season, we worked with fire and emergency services to help them understand the conditions and areas with increased bushfire risk. We also support community preparedness campaigns such as Get Ready Queensland.
Preparing for tropical cyclone season
We provide information about Australia's tropical cyclone season to help communities and emergency services prepare and plan ahead.
Australia's official tropical cyclone season is from 1 November to 30 April, although cyclones can occur outside of these months.
Tropical cyclone activity varies from year to year. Since 2000 an average of 9 tropical cyclones have occurred in the Australian region each season.
Every season is different. It only takes one tropical cyclone or tropical low to have serious impacts on communities. People in cyclone prone areas should prepare before the season begins and stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings. Our tropical cyclone 7 day forecast helps you keep track of possible tropical cyclone activity around Australia.
Tropical cyclone facts:
- On average, the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Australia is in late December.
- The most ever recorded in a season was 18 in 1983–84.
- The fewest was 3 in 2015–16.
- Tropical cyclones have been recorded in the Australian region outside the official season including in May, June, July and October.
- Australia's most cyclone-prone area is the north-west coast between Broome and Exmouth in Western Australia.
There when it matters most
When severe weather occurs, we work with emergency service agencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We provide the latest weather forecasts and warnings to help communities to plan ahead and stay safe.
We also work with the media to help this information reach more Australians. This includes the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a key emergency broadcaster.
We also have meteorologists and hydrologists working directly in state and national disaster management centres. They provide weather and water information to help emergency managers make important decisions.
Helping you know your risk
Everyone has a role to play in preparing for severe weather.
Knowing the weather risks where you live, having an emergency plan and staying up to date with official warnings can help you prepare and make safer decisions. Stay up to date with bureau forecasts and warnings and check your local emergency services for advice on how to prepare and stay safe.
We provide forecasts and warnings through the BOM Weather app, website and on our social media channels.
To find out how you can prepare for severe weather visit Know your weather. Know your risk.
Keep informed
Severe weather can develop quickly and can threaten lives and property. You can reduce the impacts by getting ready before it happens.
Stay up to date with the bureau's latest weather warnings.
Get the bureau's warnings direct to your phone. Download the BOM Weather app and set notifications for your location.
To learn more about severe weather visit Know your weather. Know your risk.