Signs are pointing to the second consecutive positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) developing in the next few months. However, May is shaping up to be a time to make-or-break this event. What is a positive IOD? The IOD is a coupled ocean-atmosphere climate driver that changes the circulation patterns over the Indian Ocean. A positive […]
A line of severe thunderstorms is moving onshore towards the southwest of WA, which could produce heavy rainfall and large hail on Thursday morning. These thunderstorms are forming on a trough offshore ahead of an approaching cold front and sweeping across the region. The image below shows a shelf cloud over Bunbury on Thursday morning. […]
The 2023-24 Australian tropical cyclone season is almost over and while it was a quiet season based on overall numbers, some of the landfalling systems had a big impact. The Australian tropical cyclone season officially runs from November until April. During this time, we usually see an average of about 9 to 10 tropical cyclones […]
A rare sight of fog graced Kalgoorlie in the early hours of Sunday morning, starting from around 5am, peaking just after 6am as the sun rose, and lifting by 7am as winds started to pick up. Images (west-facing) on Sunday, April 14 AWST: (Top)- Kalgoorlie at 6:09am, and (Bottom) – Kalgoorlie at 7:14am (Bureau […]
Solar output across large areas of Australia should peak this week, with many areas not expected to receive a drop of rain. The dry week across WA, parts of the NT, SA and Vic this week comes as blocking high pressure systems prevent any major cold fronts from impacting the regions this week. The satellite […]
Tropical Cyclone Paul has formed over the northeast Coral Sea and could reach category three intensity by Thursday afternoon. Paul formed in the early hours of Thursday morning, becoming the 8th tropical cyclone in the Australian region so far this season. On Wednesday, Bureau of Meteorology outlooks only suggested a low chance of tropical cyclone […]
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Olga is edging ever so slightly closer to the Pilbara on Wednesday, bringing damaging winds and rain to the far western Pilbara and its islands. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Olga is currently about 200kmh northwest of Karratha on Wednesday morning, with the satellite image below showing thick cloud and lightning offshore. Image: Himawari- 9 […]
Tropical moisture from Severe Tropical Cyclone Olga will bring rainfall to parts of the Pilbara and Gascoyne as it tracks parallel to their coastline this week. The satellite image below shows Tropical Cyclone Olga sitting off the northwest shelf of WA and thick cloud extending 1700km into the NT. Image: Himawari-9 satellite image at […]
There is a high risk that Tropical Cyclone Olga will develop to the northwest of Australia this weekend. The satellite images below show a tropical low sitting between WA and Indonesia on Friday morning. Video: Satellite images showing a tropical low to the north of WA on the morning of Friday, April 5, 2024. This […]
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, […]
