How to get weather information at sea
Know how to get weather information when you're on the coast or on the high seas around Australia.
Depending on how far you are offshore, you can access our weather information using:
- very high frequency (VHF) radio for inshore waters up to 20 nautical miles
- high frequency (HF) radio for offshore waters
- MarineLite – our forecasts, warnings and weather charts web pages designed for satellite internet and areas with limited bandwidth
- satellite when you need global access.
Marine safety and distress
Distress and safety services are provided by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and state and territory governments.
For a list of national, state and territory marine agencies, see our Emergency contacts page.
VHF voice radio for inshore waters
Local weather forecasts are broadcast by coastal radio stations on very high frequency (VHF) radio.
Tune into the broadcasts for weather information and warnings.
- Instructions and broadcast times are announced on channel 16.
- Coverage extends about 20 nautical miles offshore.
- Schedule and hours of operation are determined by each coast radio station.
This service is provided by state and territory maritime safety agencies and local volunteer marine rescue operations.
Find the marine safety agency for your area on our Emergency contacts page.
HF radio voice and fax for offshore waters
We broadcast marine weather information over high frequency (HF) radio for the high seas and Australian coastal areas.
Broadcasts are made from 2 stations:
- VMC – for services from Charleville in Queensland.
- VMW – for services from Wiluna in Western Australia.
Broadcast areas
VMC (Australia Weather East) broadcasts for the following areas:
- Coastal Waters areas off Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
- High Seas for the Northern, Southern, North Eastern and South Eastern high seas areas.
VMW (Australia Weather West) broadcasts for the following areas:
- Coastal Waters areas off South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory.
- High Seas for the Northern, Western and Southern high seas areas.
Find maps of broadcast areas on our Marine weather service areas page.
Voice broadcasts
- Include warnings and forecasts.
- Marine warnings are broadcast every hour, on the hour.
- Forecasts and observation reports are broadcast on a fixed schedule repeated every 4 hours.
View the HF voice broadcast schedule and frequencies on this page.
Fax broadcasts
- Include weather, wind and wave charts.
To receive fax broadcasts, you need either:
- a marine fax unit attached to your HF radio
- or a personal computer connected through an HF modulator.
View the HF fax broadcast schedule and frequencies on this page.
MarineLite for satellite internet and areas with limited bandwidth
Forecasts, warnings, and weather charts are available on our text-only web pages – MarineLite.
This is suitable for areas with poor mobile coverage or where information can only be accessed through satellite services.
This service covers:
- Australian Coastal Waters forecasts and warnings
- High Seas forecasts and Ocean Wind Warnings
- charts for Australia, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
You'll find MarineLite on our current website – we're still building this new one.
Satellite communication services
Satellite communications provide global coverage through Enhanced Group Call satellite services.
We provide high seas warnings and forecasts, and some coastal forecasts for Australian high seas and coastal areas.
Our marine forecasts and warnings are broadcast through the Iridium SafetyCast and Inmarsat SafetyNET satellite network systems.
Our warnings and forecast services for METAREA 10 include:
- Australian high seas areas
- Bass Strait
- Torres Strait
- Western Australian coastal waters
- Northern Territory coastal waters.
We provide broadcasts as part of the Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service to shipping, under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
Broadcast schedules
Weather warnings are broadcast as they are issued.
Weather forecasts are broadcast at the same Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) all year round. For the Bass Strait, UTC time changes 1 hour later during Australian Daylight Saving Time (ADST).
Australian SafetyNET weather bulletin schedule
Forecast type | Areas | Times |
---|---|---|
High seas | North Eastern, South Eastern, Western, Northern | 1100, 2300 UTC |
High seas | Southern | 1100 UTC |
Coastal waters | Bass Strait | 1930, 0715 UTC (+ 1 hour later during ADST) |
Coastal waters | Torres Strait | 1845, 0600 UTC |
Coastal waters | Northern Territory (Cape Fourcroy to NT–Qld border) | 1915, 0630 UTC |
Coastal waters | Western Australia, Northern Australia (WA–NT border to Cape Fourcroy) | 2030, 0830 UTC |
Australian SafetyCast weather bulletin schedule
Forecast type | Areas | Times |
---|---|---|
High seas | North Eastern, South Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern | 1100, 2300 UTC |
Coastal waters | Bass Strait | 1930, 0715 UTC (+ 1 hour later during ADST) |
Coastal waters | Torres Strait | 1845, 0550 UTC |
Coastal waters | Northern Territory | 1915, 0630 UTC |
Coastal waters | Western Australia | 2000, 0800 UTC |
HF radio schedules and frequencies
HF Marine radio voice – Charleville (VMC)
Frequencies (kHz)
- Day time 0700 – 1800 (EST) on 4426 and 16546.
- Night time 1800 – 0700 (EST) on 2201 and 6507.
- Any time on 8176 and 12365.
Broadcast schedule summary
Marine weather warnings:
- On each hour, Eastern Standard Time (EST) for NT, Qld, NSW, Vic, SA and Tas.
- At 30 minutes past each hour Central Standard Time (CST).
Navigation Maritime Safety Information notices:
- At 25 minutes past each hour when applicable.
Marine forecasts and observations:
- Every 4 hours.
Times are displayed in the schedule as:
- EST – Eastern Standard Time
- CST – Central Standard Time
- WST – Western Standard Time
- UTC – Coordinated Universal Time.
During daylight saving time, add 1 hour to EST and CST to get Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) and Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) equivalent.
Charleville (VMC) broadcast schedule – HF radio voice
EST | CST | WST | UTC | Forecasts |
---|---|---|---|---|
0730 | 0700 | 0530 | 2130 | Queensland |
0830 | 0800 | 0630 | 2230 | High Seas (Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern areas) |
0930 | 0900 | 0730 | 2330 | New South Wales Victoria |
1030 | 1000 | 0830 | 0030 | Tasmania |
1130 | 1100 | 0930 | 0130 | Queensland |
1230 | 1200 | 1030 | 0230 | High Seas (Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern areas) |
1330 | 1300 | 1130 | 0330 | New South Wales Victoria |
1430 | 1400 | 1230 | 0430 | Tasmania |
1530 | 1500 | 1330 | 0530 | Queensland |
1630 | 1600 | 1430 | 0630 | High Seas (Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern areas) |
1730 | 1700 | 1530 | 0730 | New South Wales Victoria |
1830 | 1800 | 1630 | 0830 | Tasmania |
1930 | 1900 | 1730 | 0930 | Queensland |
2030 | 2000 | 1830 | 1030 | High Seas (Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern areas) |
2130 | 2100 | 1930 | 1130 | New South Wales Victoria |
2230 | 2200 | 2030 | 1230 | Tasmania |
2330 | 2300 | 2130 | 1330 | Queensland |
0030 | 0000 | 2230 | 1430 | High Seas (Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern areas) |
0130 | 0100 | 2330 | 1530 | New South Wales Victoria |
0230 | 0200 | 0030 | 1630 | Tasmania |
0330 | 0300 | 0130 | 1730 | Queensland |
0430 | 0400 | 0230 | 1830 | High Seas (Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern areas) |
0530 | 0500 | 0330 | 1930 | New South Wales Victoria |
0630 | 0600 | 0430 | 2030 | Tasmania |
HF Marine radio voice – Wiluna (VMW)
Frequencies (kHz)
- Day time 0700 – 1800 WST on 4149 and 16528.
- Night time 1800 – 0700 WST on 2056 and 6230.
- Any time on 8113 and 12362.
Broadcast schedule summary
Marine weather warnings:
- On each hour, Eastern Standard Time (EST) for Qld Gulf, NT, WA and SA.
- At 30 minutes past each hour Central Standard Time (CST).
Navigation Maritime Safety Information notices:
- At 25 minutes past each hour when applicable.
Marine forecasts and observations:
- Every 4 hours.
Times are displayed in the schedule as:
- WST – Western Standard Time
- CST – Central Standard Time
- EST – Eastern Standard Time
- UTC – Coordinated Universal Time.
During daylight saving time, add 1 hour to EST and CST to get Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) and Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) equivalent.
Wiluna (VMW) broadcast schedule – HF radio voice
WST | CST | EST | UTC | Forecasts |
---|---|---|---|---|
0730 | 0900 | 0930 | 2330 | Western Australia (Northern Zones: NT–WA border to North West Cape) Northern Territory |
0830 | 1000 | 1030 | 0030 | Western Australia (Western Zones: North West Cape to Cape Naturaliste) Western Australia (Southern Zones: Cape Naturaliste to WA–SA border) |
0930 | 1100 | 1130 | 0130 | South Australia |
1030 | 1200 | 1230 | 0230 | Queensland (Gulf waters) High Seas (Northern, Western, and Southern areas) |
1130 | 1300 | 1330 | 0330 | Western Australia (Northern Zones: NT–WA border to North West Cape) Northern Territory |
1230 | 1400 | 1430 | 0430 | Western Australia (Western Zones: North West Cape to Cape Naturaliste) Western Australia (Southern Zones: Cape Naturaliste to WA–SA border) |
1330 | 1500 | 1530 | 0530 | South Australia |
1430 | 1600 | 1630 | 0630 | Queensland (Gulf waters) High Seas (Northern, Western, and Southern areas) |
1530 | 1700 | 1730 | 0730 | Western Australia (Northern Zones: NT–WA border to North West Cape) Northern Territory |
1630 | 1800 | 1830 | 0830 | Western Australia (Western Zones: North West Cape to Cape Naturaliste) Western Australia (Southern Zones: Cape Naturaliste to WA–SA border) |
1730 | 1900 | 1930 | 0930 | South Australia |
1830 | 2000 | 2030 | 1030 | Queensland (Gulf waters) High Seas (Northern, Western, and Southern areas) |
1930 | 2100 | 2130 | 1130 | Western Australia (Northern Zones: NT–WA border to North West Cape) Northern Territory |
2030 | 2200 | 2230 | 1230 | Western Australia (Western Zones: North West Cape to Cape Naturaliste) Western Australia (Southern Zones: Cape Naturaliste to WA–SA border) |
2130 | 2300 | 2330 | 1330 | South Australia |
2230 | 0000 | 0030 | 1430 | Queensland (Gulf waters) High Seas (Northern, Western, and Southern areas) |
2330 | 0100 | 0130 | 1530 | Western Australia (Northern Zones: NT–WA border to North West Cape) Northern Territory |
0030 | 0200 | 0230 | 1630 | Western Australia (Western Zones: North West Cape to Cape Naturaliste) Western Australia (Southern Zones: Cape Naturaliste to WA–SA border) |
0130 | 0300 | 0330 | 1730 | South Australia |
0230 | 0500 | 0530 | 1930 | Queensland (Gulf waters) High Seas (Northern, Western, and Southern areas) |
0330 | 0500 | 0530 | 1930 | Western Australia (Northern Zones: NT–WA border to North West Cape) Northern Territory |
0430 | 0600 | 0630 | 2030 | Western Australia (Western Zones: North West Cape to Cape Naturaliste) Western Australia (Southern Zones: Cape Naturaliste to WA–SA border) |
0530 | 0700 | 0730 | 2130 | South Australia |
0630 | 0800 | 0830 | 2230 | Queensland (Gulf waters) High Seas (Northern, Western, and Southern areas) |
HF Marine radio fax – Charleville (VMC) and Wiluna (VMW)
The station identifiers are:
- VMC – Charleville
- VMW – Wiluna.
VMC Fax frequencies (kHz):
- Day time 0500 – 1900 (EST) on 4149 and 16528.
- Night time 1900 – 0500 (EST) on 2628.
- Any time on 5100, 11030 and 13920.
VMW Fax frequencies (kHz):
- Day time 0500 – 1900 (WST) on 18060.
- Night time 1900 – 0500 (WST) on 5755.
- Any time on 7535, 10555 and 15615.
The broadcasts at 0000, 0345 and 0500 are repeat broadcasts on 11030 kHz only.
HF Marine radio fax schedule
Time (UTC) | Description of item and current chart |
---|---|
0000 | Indian Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
0015 | VMC and VMW schedule – 2 pages |
0045 | VMC and VMW Broadcast information |
0100 | Recommended frequencies for VMC – Charleville – 3 pages |
0131 | Recommended Frequencies for VMW – Wiluna – 3 pages |
0203 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+36) valid 0000 |
0245 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
0300 | Australian Primary Swell Waves Forecast (H+24) valid 0000 |
0315 | Voice Broadcast Information for VMC and VMW |
0345 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
0400 | South Pacific Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
0430 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure 4-day forecast – 2 pages |
0500 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure 4-day forecast – 2 pages |
0600 | Asian (Area A) Gradient Level Wind Analysis valid 0000 |
0623 | Asian (Area B) Gradient Level Wind Analysis valid 0000 |
0645 | Asian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
0730 | Indian Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
0745 | Australian Total Wave Height and Direction Forecast (H+24) valid 0000 |
0800 | Australian Primary Swell Waves Forecast (H+24) valid 0000 |
0830 | South Pacific Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
0845 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0600 |
0900 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+36) valid 0000 |
0915 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure 4-day forecast – 2 pages |
1015 | Southern Ocean Total Wave Height and Direction (H+24) valid 0000 |
1030 | Indian Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
1045 | Southern Hemisphere Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+48) valid 0000 |
1100 | Southern Ocean Total Wave Height and Direction (H+36) valid 0000 |
1115 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0600 |
1130 | Asian Sea Surface Temperature Analysis |
1145 | VMC and VMW Information notice |
1200 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+36) valid 1200 |
1215 | VMC and VMW Schedule – 2 pages |
1245 | Indian Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+36) valid 1200 |
1315 | South Pacific Ocean Total Waves (H+48) valid 0000 |
1330 | Indian Ocean Total Waves (H+48) valid 0000 |
1345 | Pacific Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures |
1400 | Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures |
1415 | Southern Ocean Total Wave Height and Direction (H+48) valid 0000 |
1430 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 1200 |
1500 | Australian Primary Swell Waves Forecast (H+24) valid 0000 |
1515 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+36) valid 1200 |
1530 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure 4-day forecast – 2 pages |
1600 | Asian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
1630 | Recommended Frequencies for VMC – Charleville – 3 pages |
1701 | Recommended Frequencies for VMW – Wiluna – 3 pages |
1800 | Asian (Area A) Gradient Level Wind Analysis valid 1200 |
1823 | Asian (Area B) Gradient Level Wind Analysis valid 1200 |
1915 | Indian Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
1930 | Australian Total Wave Height and Direction Forecast (H+24) valid 1200 |
1945 | Australian Primary Swell Waves Height Forecast (H+24) valid 1200 |
2000 | South Pacific Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis valid 0000 |
2015 | Southern Ocean Total Wave Height and Direction (H+24) valid 0000 |
2030 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis (Manual) valid 1800 |
2215 | Southern Ocean Total Wave Height and Direction (H+36) valid 0000 |
2230 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure 4-day forecast, Days 1 and 2 |
2245 | Southern Hemisphere Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+48) valid 1200 |
2300 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure 4-day forecast, Days 3 and 4 |
2315 | Southern Ocean Total Wave Height and Direction (H+48) valid 0000 |
2330 | Australian Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+36) valid 0000 |
2345 | Indian Ocean Mean Sea Level Pressure Forecast (H+48) valid 1200 |