Bureau Of Meteorology Is Basic Source For Sydney Weather Forecast

The Australia Bureau of Meteorology is the original source of the public Sydney weather forecast. The Bureau, or BOM, supplies its forecasts to all media organizations who in turn distribute it to the public. People on the go can call the BOM 24x7 on dedicated numbers and obtain an update 24 hours each day. Separate numbers provide weather warnings as distinct from weather forecasts.

The BOM provides special services for mariners. The BOM passes on its information to several maritime agencies. These authorities broadcast it via marine radio. There are three distinct Australian marine radio networks, namely, the Coast Radio Network, the network operated by the Australia Maritime Safety Authority and, finally, the Volunteer Coastal Stations. All three services relay BOM weather reports, both warnings and forecasts.

AMSA provides high frequency (HF) radio transmissions. It programs automated transmissions of BOM weather reports for the open ocean (offshore areas) as well as coast areas. AMSA stations simultaneously broadcast voice and radio-fax weather reports. Marine warnings are broadcast every hour on the hour. Weather forecasts are broadcast on a fixed schedule and repeated every four hours. The two stations use six frequencies for voice radio transmissions and five frequencies for radio-fax transmissions. Lower frequencies are used at night and the higher frequencies at day.

Radio-fax transmissions broadcast at HF require a vessel to be equipped with a marine fax machine attached to the HF radio or for a personal computer to be connected through a HF modulator.

In addition to the HF radio broadcasts, the AMSA network also provides satellite Inmarsat C SafetyNET broadcasts accessible to mariners anywhere in the world. These broadcasts cover warnings and forecasts for the high seas. The broadcasts are provided as part of Australian responsibilities under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). They cover the Australian search and rescue area of responsibility. High seas weather reports (forecasts and warnings) for the Australian Eastern Area are broadcast via the Pacific Ocean satellite and for the Australian Western Area via the Indian Ocean satellite. Weather reports for the Far North of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Bass Strait, as well as selected other coastal waters, are included as part of these broadcasts.

The CRN comprises 9 high frequency (HF) coastal radio stations operated by state governments. One is located at Sydney. The stations constantly monitor for distress calls from vessels on three frequencies, namely, 8291, 6215 and 4125 kHz. A boat or ship making a distress call within 200 nautical miles of the Australian coastline should be received by two or more CRN stations.

CRN bases may monitor for distress calls on VHF channel 16, however this is done at the option of each station. Also, again at their option, they stations may transmit local weather reports on channels 16 or 67. Radio broadcasts at very high frequency (VHF) are designed to reach receivers in coastal waters not the high seas.

Naturally, a Sydney weather forecast is accessible at any hour each day every day to anyone with an Internet connection. The BOM forecast is updated several times a day.