The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a warning of increased risks in the 2024/25 tropical cyclone season.

BOM is urging communities to prepare for potentially severe weather events, predicting that the number of tropical cyclones will be close to the historical average, but warning that warmer ocean temperatures could increase the likelihood of these storms becoming more severe.

In its forecast for the upcoming cyclone season, the Bureau expects approximately four cyclones to make landfall on Australian coasts between November 2024 and April 2025. 

However, the experts caution that these numbers, though typical, do not diminish the potential danger. 

In the previous season, eight tropical cyclones formed in northern Australian waters, with four crossing the coast and causing extensive damage.

Cyclones are not the only danger Australians will face during the severe weather season, which stretches from October to April each year. 

Alongside tropical storms, the nation is also at risk from severe thunderstorms, flooding, heatwaves, and bushfires. 

The BOM has highlighted particular risks for flash flooding and riverine flooding in northern and eastern Australia during this period, and says there is an increased chance of extreme heatwaves as temperatures climb over the summer months.

Severe thunderstorms are most likely along the east coast of New South Wales and Queensland, as well as across inland Western Australia and the tropical north.

The Bureau is also collaborating with fire authorities to monitor the elevated risk of bushfires. “Fire authorities are advising an increased fire risk in the spring months for parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory, western Victoria and south-east South Australia," BOM National Community Information Manager Andrea Peace said. 

Authorities also warn that there could be an early start to the fire season in some regions.

With the start of the severe weather season imminent, the Bureau is urging Australians to take precautionary measures now. Preparations include readying homes and properties for potential storms, updating emergency plans, and assembling emergency kits. 

Further resources include:

Australia's tropical cyclone season long-range forecast for November 2024 to April 2025 on the Bureau's website.

More information about severe weather – Severe weather knowledge centre (bom.gov.au)

BOM Fire Weather Knowledge Centre: Fire Weather (bom.gov.au)

BOM Flood Knowledge Centre: Flood Knowledge Centre (bom.gov.au)

The Bureau's Know your weather. Know your risk webpage: Know Your Weather (bom.gov.au)

The national weather app: The BOM Weather app

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