Seasons & weather
Australia weather: tropical seasons, dry interiors and southern fronts
Australian weather ranges from the tropical north to temperate southern coasts and alpine terrain. Seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere: December falls in summer and June in winter. In the tropical north, the wet and dry seasons often describe everyday weather more usefully than four equal seasons.
Check the region as well as the month
Coastal humidity, inland heat, elevation and passing fronts can produce very different conditions on the same day. A forecast for a southern city does not represent the desert interior or a tropical coastal town. Alpine areas can experience snow and severe weather even when conditions elsewhere seem mild.
Tropical rain and cyclones
Northern wet-season weather can involve thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding. Tropical cyclone information needs the latest Bureau of Meteorology advice, including the areas and times affected. The centre of a storm is only one part of the picture: rain, damaging wind and coastal water can affect a much wider area.
Compare rainfall accumulations with the period they cover. A three-hour model total is not a river-level forecast, and a low value at your location does not rule out water arriving from rain upstream. Check flood warnings and road closures separately.
Heat and fire weather
For hot days, consider the length of the hot spell and whether nights offer relief as well as the maximum temperature. Fire-weather warnings describe dangerous conditions, not the location of every fire. Fire danger ratings also consider factors beyond the general weather forecast. Restrictions, incidents and evacuation directions come from the responsible state, territory and local emergency authorities.
Use the right official product
The Bureau of Meteorology publishes different products for severe weather, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, floods, heat and fire weather. They do not share a universal colour scale with European alerts. Read the product, location, issue time and advice. For marine travel or alpine activities, consult the relevant specialist forecast alongside the local weather.