Comparing sources of weather prediction information in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie

Tropical Cyclone Debbie, a Category 4 cyclone, crossed Australia's coast in North Queensland on 28 March 2017. Over three days, the cyclone travelled south across Queensland weakening to a low-pressure weather system. The event caused significant flooding and damage to communities . Formal sources of information related to this event included the Bureau of Meteorology and emergency services providers as well as informal sources from state-based traditional media and stct media sources of Twitter and websites. This paper is based on findings of a small study to identify the differences in weather prediction information between those formal and informal sources using the Cyclone Debbie major weather event, which invoked a disaster response. This paper identifies issues associated with the dissemination and reporting of weather-based information during emergencies. These include the language used in official sources that can confuse or downplay events, inconsistent reporting between authority and non-official sources and the lack of locally based information Used by non-traditional information providers.