There are increasing signs that two tropical lows could develop over northern Australia in the next week, with one a high risk of developing into a tropical cyclone. The enhanced tropical risk comes as the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) makes its way towards the Australian region in the coming week. While the MJO currently […]
Heavy rainfall of up to 300mm is expected this Friday and Saturday for southeast Queensland and eastern NSW, as a powerful cut-off low and a moisture-rich coastal trough combine. A pool of cold air currently crossing the Great Australian Bight is expected to produce an upper-level low pressure system over southeastern Australia by Thursday. This […]
Heavy rain and thunderstorms will continue in parts of Qld and the NT over the next few days, increasing the risk of flooding and outback road closures. This week’s wet weather is being caused by the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Megan and an associated low-pressure trough extending across the NT and Qld. The […]
There are early signs that parts of SA, the NT, NSW and Qld could get soaked on the Easter long weekend, as moisture left behind by ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan spreads south. Tropical Cyclone Megan made landfall over the southwest Gulf of Carpentaria on Monday, March 18. The system then weakened to a tropical low […]
As Perth and the southwest corner of Western Australia emerge from their traditional spring, summer, and early autumn dry season, the wait for decent rain is a lot more frustrating than usual. There are two reasons for the heightened stress levels. The first is that even by local standards, it has been an exceptionally […]
The infamous southerly buster will move up the NSW coast on Wednesday impacting port operations in the region. Southerly busters are an abrupt southerly change with wind gusts exceeding 54 km/h (29 knots) and a temperature drop of at least 5°C in three hours. Sydney typically receives five busters a year, with three already […]
The remnants of Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan will carry heavy rain across the NT over the next few days as communities assess the damage in the powerful system’s wake. Megan made landfall as a category three severe tropical cyclone on Monday afternoon, crossing the coast to the southeast of Port McArthur. The tropical cyclone caused […]
Destructive winds have started to lash the NT coastline as Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan edges closer to making landfall. At 9:30am ACST on Monday, March 18, Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan was a category three system located 55 km east northeast of Port McArthur. The satellite images below show the powerful cyclone sitting over the Gulf […]
After dumping half a year’s worth of rainfall over Groote Eylandt in the past 48 hours, Tropical Cyclone Megan is building strength in the Gulf of Carpentaria and will make landfall over the NT coast on Monday night. Tropical Cyclone Megan formed on Saturday afternoon in the Gulf of Carpentaria, making it the fifth tropical […]
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, […]
