Home › Weather › Weather Icons
Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 23 June 2026 by the Oz Monitorly Weather Desk. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
Weather icons are standardised symbols on forecasts showing conditions like sunny, cloudy, rainy, or stormy. The live forecast above uses these icons to give you an immediate visual summary of expected weather across Australian cities.
What do the most common weather icons mean?
Sun icons (often a yellow circle with rays) indicate clear skies. Clouds range from partly cloudy (sun behind a cloud) to overcast (grey clouds). Rain icons show drops or lines — a single drop means light showers, multiple drops heavier rain, and a cloud with lightning indicates thunderstorms. Fog is depicted as three wavy lines. Hail, snow, and dust are less common but have distinct symbols. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) uses a consistent set of weather symbols with names that align with international standards.
How accurate are forecast icons for planning your day?
Icons give a quick, broad picture but may not capture localised changes. For fine-grained detail, check hourly forecasts or radar. Understanding weather icons meaning helps you interpret the live forecast above — for example, a cloud with a sun behind it still means possible morning or evening showers. For mobile use, weather icons iPhone and Android apps often display the same core symbols. Free weather icons packs and SVG versions are widely available for developers.
Why do different apps show slightly different weather icons?
Providers use varied icon sets — weather icons Google, Apple, and BOM all have unique designs. However, the core meaning (sunny, rainy, etc.) is standardised. You can search for “weather icons free” or “weather icons png” to see common variations.
Can I use weather icons from BOM on my website?
BOM’s icons are copyrighted. For personal or commercial use, look for open-source weather icons SVG or free icon packs. Always check the licence before reuse — many sites offer weather symbols with names that are royalty-free.
How do I find the meaning of a specific icon on the Bureau of Meteorology site?
BOM provides a legend for its weather icons meaning on its website. Look under “About the forecast” or the “Weather symbols with names” section. The live forecast above also includes text descriptions when you hover over an icon.
For more details, explore our Australia weather hub or the Melbourne Weather page for city-specific forecasts.