Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is Australia's national weather, climate, and water agency. It provides a wide range of services, including weather forecasts, warnings for severe weather events, climate monitoring, and hydrological information. The BoM is newsworthy due to the recent extreme weather events impacting Australia, including cyclones, major flooding, heatwaves, and record rainfall. Recent developments include the BoM issuing evacuation warnings for Bundaberg due to major flooding, warnings about crocodiles in floodwaters in the Northern Territory, forecasts of heavy rain and flash flooding in far north Queensland, and predictions of a monsoon low potentially bringing a year's worth of rain to some regions. The BoM also reported that Australia experienced its wettest summer in nearly a decade and the eighth-hottest on record. Furthermore, the BoM's forecasts are crucial for preparing for Tropical Cyclone Mitchell and monitoring the potential formation of an El Niño, which could push global temperatures to record highs. The BoM's warnings and forecasts are vital for public safety and informing decisions related to agriculture, emergency management, and resource management.