Southerly buster
A southerly buster is a sudden shift to cool, southeasterly winds along southeastern Australia’s coast. It usually arrives on hot days and brings a quick drop in temperature, often with unsettled weather like rain or thunderstorms and strong gusts. Sometimes you can spot a roll cloud near the coast, but not always.
Where and when: These wind changes mainly affect the coasts of New South Wales and Victoria, but they can also occur on the east coast of Tasmania, and in some parts of New Zealand, Argentina, and Chile. Along the southeastern Australian coast they happen about 32 times a year, mostly in spring and summer.
How they form: A southerly buster develops behind a trough in the Tasman Sea. A shallow cold front meets the Great Dividing Range, and land and sea friction slows and redirects the air along the coast. This creates a coastal gravity current of cool air that moves northward under the warm air over land, driving the sharp wind change.
What it does: As the buster arrives, temperatures can plunge quickly—often 10 to 15 degrees Celsius in a few minutes. Winds can gust around 74 km/h near the coast, with stronger gusts in some events. The strongest winds tend to come on very hot days, and the event usually lasts from about 30 minutes to a few hours. It’s common to have low clouds and brief drizzle or light rain, followed by cooler, more stable conditions.
Impact: Southerly busts can disrupt flights, create rough sea conditions, and raise bushfire danger on hot days. They are a notable weather feature in the region, with historically strong gusts recorded at major airports.
Forecasting and trends: Modern weather tools, including satellites and radar, help forecasters predict busts and issue warnings. There is evidence that global warming has reduced their frequency and sometimes their strength, leading to more mild events in recent years.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:01 (CET).