Site News

2024-11-06 – The Mawson neutron monitor is currently offline due to an electronics issue. Time until repair is unknown at this stage.
2024-10-20 – The technical issue blocking delivery of email subscription products has been resolved. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
2024-10-17 – Due to a technical issue, our email subscription products are not currently operating. We are investigating this issue and will endeavour to return service as quickly as possible.
2024-09-19 – Email notification issue has been resolved. Normal service resumed at approximately 0:30 UTC 19 September.
2024-09-19 – We are continuing to have some delays with delivery of email notifications. Customers may experience delays of several hours in receiving email. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
2024-09-18 – There is a delay in receiving some email notifications. Customers may experience delays and receive emails which were sent a number of hours ago. The backlog is being processed and is expected to clear by close of business today.

2024-06-11 –

The Bureau of Meteorology operates a ground-based space weather observational network. 
In addition, the Bureau's Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) ingests 
satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space 
Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). These data feed several products and services that 
are issued through the ASWFC.

On Wednesday 12 June 2024, between 1:00am and 7:00am (AEST), SWPC plans to perform a major
network upgrade that will severely limit its operational capabilities and distribution of
data to the ASWFC. Access to products and data on the SWPC website will also be impacted
and at times will be severely limited to completely unavailable.
During this period, the ASWFC will continue to maintain 24/7 operations, however some 
products may be unavailable.
Please note, SWPC have advised the ASWFC that in the event of significant space weather 
activity, this network upgrade will be postponed.

If you need to contact the Bureau's space weather capability during the maintenance period, 
please contact the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre.

ASWFC@bom.gov.au 
08 8366 2628
Yours sincerely,  
Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre

2024-05-19 – Space Weather systems are undergoing a planned upgrade. There may be intermittent outages from 12:00 pm (AEST) on 29 May 2024, for up to 24 hours, subject to any unforeseen delays. If you require alternative sources of data during this time please contact the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre by emailing ASWFC@bom.gov.au

2024-05-09 –

Due to unusual X-Ray flux conditions, we have experienced an error in our Flare Alert software which resulted 
in flares being observed without alerts being issued on 8-9 May. We are looking into our software to determine 
how to avoid this issue in the future. In the meantime, the real time X-Ray flux page on our website will show the 
current flare conditions: https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Solar/1/7. 
In addition, the Recent Flare product https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Solar/1/8 has been affected and has not recorded 
several recent flares. The missed flares at the R2 (M5.0) and greater level are included below:

Flare: X1.0
Begin: 08 05 2024 0442UT
Max. : 08 05 2024 0509UT
Ended: 08 05 2024 0531UT
Duration: 49 minutes. (00:49)
Fadeout: probable all freq. Sector: E. Asia/Aust.

Flare: M7.1
Begin: 08 05 2024 0642UT
Max. : 08 05 2024 0653UT
Ended: 08 05 2024 0702UT
Duration: 20 minutes. (00:20)
Fadeout: probable lower freq. Sector: Mid East/Indian

Flare: M8.6
Begin: 08 05 2024 1138UT
Max. : 08 05 2024 1204UT
Ended: 08 05 2024 1216UT
Duration: 38 minutes. (00:38)
Fadeout: probable lower freq. Sector: European

Flare: M7.9
Begin: 08 05 2024 1733UT
Max. : 08 05 2024 1753UT
Ended: 08 05 2024 1759UT
Duration: 26 minutes. (00:26)
Fadeout: probable lower freq. Sector: South American/Atlantic

Flare: X1.0
Begin: 08 05 2024 2109UT
Max. : 08 05 2024 2140UT
Ended: 08 05 2024 2307UT
Duration: 118 minutes. (01:58)
Fadeout: probable all freq. Sector: East Pacific/North American

The Short-wave Fadeout Alert product and the Flares list in the Solar Summary in the Daily Solar and Geophysical Report
are also impacted by this software issue. 
Where flares are missed by the automated alert products, we will endeavour to issue a manual alert providing flare timing
and magnitude for events at the ASWAS R2 (M5.0) level and higher. This will only take place between 2030 and 0800UT or 6:30 am
to 6:00 pm AEST or 6:00 am to 5:30 pm ACST. Please see the Site News on the homepage of https://sws.bom.gov.au/ for any
updates on this issue.

2024-04-10 –

The Bureau of Meteorology will be conducting essential system maintenance. Our services will be unavailable 
between 30 minutes and up to 45 minutes during the following time:

•	12:45 pm Wednesday 10 April 2024 to 01:45 pm Wednesday 10 April 2024 AEST.

During this maintenance period, the ASWFC will be unable to:  
•	issue forecast updates  
•	issue warning updates. 

During the maintenance period, users will not be able to access: 
•	Real-time Space Weather Data Services or FTP data 

The Bureau apologises for any inconvenience caused by this essential maintenance. 
We take the reliability of our service provision very seriously and all steps have been taken to minimise any disruption. 

In the case of severe weather, maintenance will be rescheduled. 

If you need to contact the Bureau's space weather capability during the
maintenance period, please call: 
•       Manager, Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre –  08 8366 2628
 
Yours sincerely,  

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre

2024-03-04 –

POSTPONED. New date yet to be announced,
The Bureau of Meteorology operates a ground-based space weather observational network. 
In addition, the Bureau's Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) ingests 
satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space 
Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). These data feed several products and services that 
are issued through the ASWFC.

On Thursday 7 March 2024, between 3:00am to 9:00am (AEDT), SWPC plans to perform a major
network upgrade that will severely limit its operational capabilities and distribution of
data to the ASWFC. Access to products and data on the SWPC website will also be impacted
and at times will be severely limited to completely unavailable.
During this period, the ASWFC will continue to maintain 24/7 operations, however some 
products may be unavailable.
Please note, SWPC have advised the ASWFC that in the event of significant space weather 
activity, this network upgrade will be postponed.

If you need to contact the Bureau's space weather capability during the maintenance period, 
please contact the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre.

ASWFC@bom.gov.au 
08 8366 3628
Yours sincerely,  
Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre

2024-02-29 –

Postponed - The Bureau of Meteorology will be conducting essential system maintenance. Our services will be unavailable 
between 30 minutes and up to 45 minutes during the following time:

•	12:30 pm Monday 4 March 2024 to 01:30 pm Monday 4 March 2024 AEDT.

During this maintenance period, the ASWFC will be unable to:  
•	issue forecast updates  
•	issue warning updates. 

During the maintenance period, users will not be able to access: 
•	Real-time Space Weather Data Services or FTP data 

The Bureau apologises for any inconvenience caused by this essential maintenance. 
We take the reliability of our service provision very seriously and all steps have been taken to minimise any disruption. 

In the case of severe weather, maintenance will be rescheduled. 

If you need to contact the Bureau's space weather capability during the
maintenance period, please call: 
•       Manager, Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre –  08 8366 2628
 
Yours sincerely,  

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre

2023-11-30 –

The Bureau of Meteorology will be conducting essential system maintenance. Our services will be unavailable 
between 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes during the following time 
(rescheduled from previous planned maintenance due to severe weather):

•	11:35 pm Monday 4th Dec 2023 to 00:05 am Tuesday 5th Dec 2023 AEDT.

During this maintenance period, the ASWFC will be unable to: 
•	receive telephone calls via standard telephone numbers 
•	issue forecast updates  
•	issue warning updates. 

During the maintenance period, users will not be able to access: 
•	Real-time Data Services or FTP data 
•	Climate Data subscribers and access to Climate Data Online 
•	Weather Data Services 
•	SSUWeb industry solutions  
•	Defence Meteorological Services. 

The Bureau apologises for any inconvenience caused by this essential maintenance. 
We take the reliability of our service provision very seriously and all steps have been taken to minimise any disruption. 

In the case of severe weather, maintenance will be rescheduled. 

If you need to contact the Bureau's space weather capability during the
maintenance period, please call: 
•       Manager, Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre –  08 8366 2628
 
Yours sincerely,  

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre

2023-11-15 –

The Bureau of Meteorology will be conducting essential system maintenance. 
Our services will be unavailable between 15 minutes and up to 1 hour during these times: 
•	11:35 pm Wednesday 15 November 2023 to 00:35 am Thursday 16 November 2023(AEDT) 
 
During the maintenance period, the Bureau will be unable to: 
•	receive telephone calls via standard telephone numbers 
•	issue forecast updates  
•	issue warning updates. 
 
During the maintenance period, users will not be able to access: 
•	Real-time Data Services or FTP data 
•	Climate Data subscribers and access to Climate Data Online 
•	Weather Data Services 
•	SSUWeb industry solutions  
•	Defence Meteorological Services. 
 
Some Bureau products and services may experience data delays between 00:35 am and 6:00 am (AEDT) 
Thursday 16 November 2023. 
 
The Bureau apologises for any inconvenience caused by this essential maintenance. 
We take the reliability of our service provision very seriously and all steps have been taken to minimise any disruption. 
 
In the case of severe weather, maintenance will be rescheduled.

2023-10-18 –

There will be service disruption from the Australian Space Weather 
Forecasting Centre. The disruption will commence on Friday 20th October 
2023 at approximately 03:00pm AEDT and is expected to last about 48 hours
and will affect Australian geomagnetic products. This includes:
 
• Geomagnetic alerts (including geomagnetic sudden impulse alerts)
• Aurora alerts
• Disturbance Storm Time (DST) index
• Australian K-index map and plots
• Pc3 index map and plots
• GIC map
• A-index plots
• Australian magnetograms
• Severe Space Weather Event notification service
 
If you need any assistance during this period, please contact the
Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre on 08 8366 2628 (between
07:30am-07:00pm AEDT) or email aswfc@bom.gov.au.

2023-08-07 – Planned SWS internal maintenance works 9 Aug 2023. Possible interruption of some data flows to this site 1130-1230 AEST that may impact the API and product updates.