Queensland Storm Strikes Thousands Amid Criticism of New $4M Bom Website

The Bureau of Meteorology's $4 million website redesign has sparked widespread criticism for being difficult to navigate and obscuring critical weather details, such as storm severity and hail detection, amid severe thunderstorms in Queensland. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Treasurer David Janetzki condemned the timing and design changes, emphasizing that the updates risked public safety by making it harder for residents to access vital information during storm season. Key issues cited include the removal of familiar features such as individual radars and locators like Caboolture, as well as changes to color coding that previously indicated storm strength. The Insurance Council of Australia reported thousands of claims following the storms, intensifying concerns over the website's adequacy during a critical period. The Bureau defended the redesign, stating it was based on community consultation and would continue to be refined with user feedback, although forecasters and weather experts expressed a preference for the old interface. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has acknowledged the public's concerns and discussed the matter with the Bureau's acting chief executive, signaling potential further improvements.