Key points

• The long-range marine heatwave outlook will now be a regular fixture over the Australian summer with forecasts made available publicly leading into and throughout the 2025-26 summer season.
• These forecasts will provide up to three months’ advance warning of ocean temperature extremes and the likelihood and location of marine heatwaves.
• Marine heatwave forecasting provide the opportunity to develop rapid responses in future.

CSIRO Chief Research Scientist and Sea Change Australia expert Dr Alistair Hobday co-presents the briefings and stressed that forecasts are only one part of managing risk.

“Information about the future can support decision making,” he said.

“Marine heatwave forecasting tells you how you might be loading the dice for a range of ecological impacts.”

Read full CSIRO media release here: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2025/August/Marine-heatwave-planning