WA is bracing for a brutal heatwave for at least five days, with temperatures soaring into the 40s and heightened fire risks affecting much of the state. Western Australia is preparing for a relentless heatwave over the next five days, with temperatures climbing into the 40s and fire danger levels rising across much of the […]
A pair of tropical cyclones may form to the northwest of Australia next week, with the potential for one to come close to the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts. Northern Australia faces an increased risk of heavy rain and tropical cyclone activity in the coming week thanks to the interaction of two huge atmospheric waves near […]
Northern Australia faces an increased risk of heavy rain and tropical cyclone activity in the coming weeks thanks to the interaction of two huge atmospheric waves near Australia. While Earth’s atmosphere may appear chaotic, there are distinct wave-like patterns in the sky that meteorologists watch out for to help predict the weather in the coming […]
Australia should experience summer without the influence of major climate drivers like La Niña or a negative IOD, potentially heightening the risk of heatwaves, extreme heat and bushfires across parts of the country. Pacific Ocean climate driver During much of 2024, the sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific have been cooler than […]
Australia recorded its warmest spring on record, with also severe rainfall deficiencies occurring across parts of the country, setting the stage for high fire risk this summer. The Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC) released their summer bushfire outlook for 2024 on Thursday, November 28, showing large areas of the NT, Vic and […]
Tropical Cyclone Robyn has formed inside Australia’s area of responsibility, becoming the first named cyclone of the 2024-25 season. Robyn became a category one tropical cyclone over the eastern Indian Ocean on Thursday afternoon, forming roughly 740 km to the west southwest of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands at about 2pm AWST. Image: Visible satellite images […]
An extremely wet week is on the cards for northern Australia, with frequent thunderstorm activity and heavy rainfall likely impacting mining operations in the country’s north. The soggy week is being partially caused by the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) which is currently over the Indian Ocean and nearing Australia. Models suggest that the MJO may […]
The Madden Julian Oscillation and the monsoon should impact Australia in the next fortnight, increasing the risk of heavy rain, flooding, thunderstorms and tropical cyclones in the coming weeks. The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is currently over the Indian ocean and is forecast to move east towards Australia in the coming days and remain in the […]
A brief burst of heavy rain is likely to cause flash flooding along Queensland’s central coast on Thursday. A coastal trough being fed by a deep layer of moisture-laden winds coming off the Coral Sea will cause heavy rain over Qld’s central coast and adjacent inland on Wednesday night into Thursday. There also signs that […]
El Niño–favourable conditions are gathering pace across the tropical Pacific, with key ocean indicators approaching threshold levels and early atmospheric responses emerging. While uncertainty remains around final El Niño strength, historical analogues show that even weak events can generate widespread impacts, including reduced rainfall, warmer daytime temperatures, increased frost risk, elevated fire danger, reduced tropical cyclone activity, and more. Industries including […]
Australia has just experienced a highly impactful tropical cyclone season, with more than 60% of systems reaching severe intensity, causing widespread disruption and damage to communities and multiple industries across northern Australia. The 2025–26 Australian tropical cyclone season officially ran from 1 November 2025 to 30 April 2026. During this six-month period, Australia saw 11 tropical cyclones, with nine […]
There are signs that a very strong, or ‘super’ El Niño could develop in the tropical Pacific Ocean later this year. So, what does this mean for Australia’s weather during the second half of 2026? El Niño on the horizon The tropical Pacific Ocean is currently in a neutral state, meaning neither El Niño nor […]
Intense heat from bushfires during elevated fire danger days can trigger fire-induced pyrocumulonimbus thunderstorms that ignite additional fires. In early January 2026, an extreme heatwave sweeping over southeastern Australia brought catastrophic fire danger to Victoria. Intensely hot bush and grass fires spread erratically and quickly in hot, dry and gusty winds, with pyrocumulonimbus generating lightning, […]
