How you might be warned about a storm
Severe Weather Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology to alert communities to the threat of severe weather.
The Bureau of Meteorology provides warnings for severe weather and severe thunderstorms which have the potential to affect the safety and well-being of people in Australia.
These warnings are provided to media outlets and available on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
When a warning is issued for your area (but before the storm arrives), there are a few things you can do to help protect your family and property:
- Move indoors, bringing children and pets with you.
- Have your emergency kit handy in case you lose power or need to leave.
- Park your car under secure cover and away from hail, trees, power lines and drains.
- Secure or put away items from around the house, yard, or balcony that could blow around in strong winds.
- Check to see if your neighbours are aware of the warning.
- When flash flooding is likely, leaving low-lying homes and businesses well before flash flooding begins (evacuation) is the best action to take, but only if it is safe to do so. If you are trapped by rising floodwater, seek refuge in the highest part of a sturdy building. Stay there and call '000' (triple zero) if you need to be rescued.
- Listen to your local radio station and other media for information, updates and advice; and
- Unplug and avoid using electrical equipment connected to mains power, landline phones and modems.
Learn more about storms and how you can prepare for them.
Visit the Bureau severe weather knowledge centre
