Weather calendar is the ‘BOM’

Dec 28, 2023

April's image is a lightning strike at Port Macquarie, NSW. Photo: Ivan Sajko Photo by The Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Australian Weather Calendar is celebrating its 40th edition this year, showcasing 13 stunning images selected from a strong competition of more than 500 entries from professional and amateur photographers.

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From lightning strikes to double rainbows, this year’s calendar shines a light on the range of weather events that happen all over Australia, such as space weather phenomenon, the aurora australis (‘southern lights’), photographed at Mawson Station in Antarctica.

Sunrise and sunset images are also popular features after warmer and drier weather conditions.

A meteorological description of each photo is alongside the monthly image, to help continue building knowledge for our audience both here and abroad.

Turn the page to October for this thunderstorm cloud over Knuckey Lagoons in the Northern Territory. Photo: Damon Wagland Photo by The Bureau of Meteorology

For more than 40 years, the Australian Weather Calendar has been sent to more than 65 countries.

“The calendar is a fantastic opportunity to further explain the science behind weather events and other phenomena, all the while admiring spectacular and uniquely Australian imagery,” senior meteorologist Andrea Peace said.

“Every page provides an insight and explains the diversity of both the striking visuals and the severe weather conditions in Australia.”

Another highlight in this year’s edition is a willy-willy, a vortex of air made visible by the dust particles and debris it contains.

They form when a localised pocket of hot air rises quickly from the surface through the cooler air above it.

The rapidly rising air rotates, speeding up as it rises and sucking up dust and debris, usually only lasting a few minutes before cool air rushes in to replace the hot air, halting the upward momentum.

The 2024 Bureau of Meteorology Australian Weather Calendar can be ordered online now at: https://shop.bom.gov.au/