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Know your warnings

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Know your map icons

Please check the Know your map icons page for more information on map icon meanings.

What is a Warning?

  • Warnings will be issued on TasALERT when an emergency may impact you and your community.
  • The Warnings provide you with real time information on what is happening and what you should do.
  • Remember, if you think you are at risk, do not wait for an official warning to act.

Australian Warning System (AWS)

Australia is implementing a nationally consistent warning system for emergencies like bushfire, flood, storm, and severe weather. This system is called the Australian Warning System (AWS). 

Using a set of nationally consistent icons, the AWS warning levels are: Advice (Yellow), Watch and Act (Orange) and Emergency Warning (Red). 

AWS delivers consistent warnings in an emergency across states/territories, no matter where you are in Australia, you will know what to do. 

In Tasmania, the Australian Warning System currently applies to bushfires and floods. You will see the following icons used for bushfire and flood warnings:

A yellow triangle with a black border and black fire icon in the center.
An orange triangle with a black border and black fire icon in the center.
A red triangle with a black border and white fire icon in the center.
A yellow triangle with a black border and black house with waves icon in the center.
An orange triangle with a black border and black house with waves icon in the center.
A red triangle with a black border and white house with waves icon in the center.

What do the warning levels mean?

A yellow triangle with a black border and black fire icon in the center.
A yellow triangle with a black border and black house with waves icon in the center.

Advice (Yellow)

An incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes. (May also be used to advise that a threat has reduced).

An orange triangle with a black border and black fire icon in the center.
An orange triangle with a black border and black house with waves icon in the center.

Watch and Act (Orange)

There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.

A red triangle with a black border and white fire icon in the center.
A red triangle with a black border and white house with waves icon in the center.

Emergency Warning (Red)

An Emergency Warning is the highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.

For more information

For more information on the AWS, visit: australianwarningsystem.com.au 

Other Warnings

A grey triangle with a black border and black fire icon in the center.

Smoke Alert (Grey)
The reported location of smoke impacted communities. There may be smoke, ash and embers from the fire visible. There is no threat to communities, but continue to monitor conditions.

A white triangle with a black border and black storm cloud with lightening icon in the center.

Severe Weather Warning
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Severe Weather Warning or a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, for heavy rainfall, damaging winds, damaging surf, hail, high tide or blizzards. You may be in danger and need to start taking action.

A white triangle with a black border and black shark fin icon in the center.

Shark sighting
Reported location of a shark sighting.

A white triangle with a black border and black exclamation point icon in the center.

Other warning
A warning has been issued for a hazard. You may be in danger and need to start taking action. 

Additional messages

A blue circle with a white border and white i icon in the center.

Community update (Blue)
Specific information and updates for affected communities regarding a particular event or incident.