Weatherzone, By: ABC, 05/06/2013

The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) has endorsed a proposal for the Building Code of Australia to include minimum standards for cyclone shelters. Pilbara councils requested the association support the move at WALGA's state council meeting in Karratha on Friday.

The Shire of Roebourne says there are currently no specific standards for cyclone shelters in the community or for private shelters, such as those on mine sites. Pilbara Regional Council chairwoman and WALGA deputy state president, Lynne Craigie, says a request will now be lodged with the building codes board.

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Weatherzone, By: Anna Vidot, 05/06/2013

The national farm lobby says Australia's drought reform agreement is a good step forward, but leaves the biggest policy questions unresolved. State, territory and federal agriculture ministers met on Friday and signed off on the National Drought Program reform, that solidified their support for five principles first outlined last October.

Those include a commitment to drought preparedness over crisis management, tax reform through the Farm Management Deposit scheme, household support payments and better social service and training provisions. But the National Farmers Federation's Brent Finlay says the crucial details about all of that, as well as what support will be available to farmers in a drought, still isn't there.

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Nationalgeographic, By: Andrew Fazekas, 05/03/2013

After nearly four years of glorious service to science, the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory mission has come to the end this week. Running out of helium coolant needed to chill its instruments down to near absolute zero means that it has closed its far-infrared eyes to the Universe for good.  After a few final tests, controllers will park the retired probe in a permanent solar orbit.

Its mission was a far-reaching one – to study for the first time some of the coldest regions of space and examine the molecular chemistry of objects across the Universe- from distant galaxies and newborn stars to the atmosphere’s of gas giant planets and comets.

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Weatherzone, By: Rob Sharpe, 05/06/2013

Melbourne has had its coldest morning since September while temperatures dropped below freezing at Coldstream.

Frost formed in Coldstream as it fell below freezing for the second time this season, with the coldest morning since the middle of last winter. Meanwhile, the city fell to a chilly low of 5.7 degrees this morning just before 8am. Many people were left shivering on their way to work without enough layers.

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Weatherzone, By: Rob Sharpe, 05/05/2013

Calm and mostly sunny weather will remain in Perth before wind and showers dominate conditions from Tuesday to Friday. Perth is coming off the back of its warmest April on record and still has a couple more days of above average temperatures. Today will be mostly sunny and reach 27 degrees before a bit more cloud arrives on Monday with a top of 25 degrees. Both days will be relatively calm due to a high pressure ridge.

On Tuesday conditions will gradually deteriorate with an approaching front and trough. Cloud will increase, a few showers will develop, wind will become strong and there is even a low chance of thunderstorms in the area. The front will arrive during the evening, bringing a band of rain and fresh westerly winds.

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