Severe Thunderstorms: How to Check Warnings in Your Area, November 7, 2026

Information checked: November 7, 2026, at 9:09 a.m. UTC (UTC+00:00).

To check whether a severe thunderstorm warning affects you in Australia, search your location on the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website or open the BOM Weather app and read the full warning. Pay attention to the affected area, the expected hazards and the issue time: storms can develop and move quickly, and conditions may change between checks.

A warning can help you prepare for damaging wind, large hail or flash flooding, but a forecast is not a guarantee that every place in a warning area will experience those conditions. This guide explains where to find current information; it does not claim that a particular storm is affecting your location now.

Destaques

• Search your town, suburb or postcode on the BOM website, then open any current warning for its map and details.
• In the BOM Weather app, turn on severe thunderstorm notifications for locations that matter to you.
• Check your state or territory emergency service for local instructions as well as BOM weather warnings.
• When a storm approaches, shelter indoors away from windows and never drive or walk through floodwater.

How do I check severe thunderstorm warnings for my area?

Go to the Bureau of Meteorology website and search for your location by name or postcode. On the location page, look for the current warnings bar below the place name. Select it, then select the title of any warning to read the full text and safety advice.

You can also select the warning icon near the top of the BOM website to reach the warnings and alerts page. There, you can filter by location or warning type, or use your device’s current location if location access is enabled. BOM describes these options in its guide to finding weather warnings.

Check the place name carefully, particularly if several towns have similar names. If you are traveling, look up your destination and the places along your route as well as your starting point. Reopen the warning for updates rather than relying on a screenshot or an older social media post.

How can I get thunderstorm warnings on my phone?

The BOM Weather app lets you search Australian locations, view active warnings on a map and enable warning notifications for up to three locations. Consider saving home, work or school, and another place where someone in your household spends time.

After installing the app, allow notifications in your phone settings and select the warning types and locations you want to monitor. Search for a location in the app and tap the warning banner to read the details. The app and BOM website use the same warnings, according to BOM’s app guidance.

Notifications depend on your device settings and connectivity, so do not treat a phone alert as your only source. If severe weather is nearby, check the warning directly and follow updates from your local emergency service and radio broadcaster.

What should I look for on a warning map?

Start with the issue time, the areas named in the text and the hazards forecast. Read the recommended actions and check when the next warning is expected. A warning may be updated sooner if conditions change.

BOM issues regional warnings for broad areas where severe thunderstorms are occurring or may occur, and more detailed warnings for storms within range of capital-city radars. Detailed maps can show existing storms, their projected movement and an immediate threat area. The BOM warning service guide explains how these maps differ.

A projected track is a forecast, not a precise promise about where a storm will go. Storms can change direction, strengthen or weaken. A broad warning area also does not mean every neighborhood will be hit. Use the map together with the written warning and keep checking as the situation develops.

Can I rely on rain radar instead of a warning?

Radar is useful for seeing recent rain and its movement, but it does not replace a warning. Heavy rain can affect what radar detects, coverage varies, and a radar image alone may not show the full threat from hail, wind or lightning. The app’s future rain display is model-based and may differ from what happens.

If a warning is in force but the radar looks clear, BOM advises people to follow the warning. Its radar guide explains why images and conditions on the ground can differ. Also remember that all thunderstorms produce lightning; a storm does not need a severe warning to be dangerous.

What should I do if a severe storm is approaching?

Before the storm arrives, if it is safe to do so, secure loose outdoor items, move vehicles under solid shelter and charge your phone. Bring children and pets inside. Once the storm strikes, stay indoors and away from windows, doors and skylights. Follow the specific instructions in the latest warning and from your state or territory emergency service.

Avoid travel through flooded areas: never drive, ride or walk through floodwater. Stay clear of fallen power lines and damaged structures. In a life-threatening emergency in Australia, call Triple Zero (000). In New South Wales, the NSW State Emergency Service lists 132 500 for emergency assistance during storms and floods.

After a storm passes, continue checking official updates. A warning can change or be canceled as the threat moves or eases, but local hazards such as debris and flooding may remain. If another storm is forecast, prepare for the possibility without assuming it will follow the same path.

Frequently asked questions

Will I get a warning for every thunderstorm?

No. BOM issues severe thunderstorm warnings for storms that are severe or expected to become severe. All thunderstorms can produce dangerous lightning, even without a severe warning.

Does a warning for my district mean my suburb will be hit?

Not necessarily. Regional warnings cover broad areas, and individual storms can be localized. Read the map and text, monitor updates and be ready to act if conditions change.

What if my phone has no signal?

Have another way to receive information, such as a battery-powered radio, and check local emergency service advice when connectivity returns. If dangerous weather is already present, take shelter and do not wait for an alert.