'aBOMination': Bureau of Meteorology boss apologises for 'challenges' of new website

The new BOM website was launched just a week ago but has been roundly criticised as being less user-friendly, confusing and even dangerous.

Nationals leader David Littleproud called the website, which cost more than $4 million, "a joke".

"The Bureau of Meteorology is losing the currency that it has in regional Australia and right across the country," he said.

The bureau's acting CEO, Peter Stone, promised on Wednesday to take on the feedback and said users could expect to see improvements "within weeks".

"It's clear we need to do more to help people through the change, both by making adjustments to the website and by helping users to understand its new features," he said.

In the face of the mounting criticism of the changes, Environment and Water Minister Senator Murray Watt met on Tuesday with Mr Stone to confirm that the website would be adjusted "where appropriate".

"It's clear that the new BOM website is not meeting many users' expectations, with a significant range of feedback provided to the Bureau in recent days," Senator Watt said.

"In the meeting, I made clear my expectations that the BOM needed to consider this feedback and, where appropriate, adjust the website's settings as soon as possible."

Mr Stone released a statement on Wednesday, still defending the website and maintaining that "forecasts, warnings and public safety information have not been compromised by the rollout of the new website".

"I acknowledge the concerns raised by the community and recognise the significance of the change," he said.

"We didn't make the change lightly and we appreciate that it will take time for some to adjust. I sincerely apologise for the challenges the change has caused."

The Bureau website was "a much-loved site that hadn't changed in over a decade". It received "millions of daily visitors and people rely on the website and the BOM Weather app to help plan ahead".

"The safety of Australians is our primary concern," Mr Stone said.

"We want to reiterate that observations, forecasts, warnings and severe weather updates continue to be readily available on our website, the app and our social media channels.

"The new site has been specifically designed to enhance access to public safety information. The Bureau's forecasts and warnings are now more prominent, easily accessible and relevant to your location."

The new website, launched on October 22, has been slammed on social media as being "crap", difficult to use, and an "aBOMination".

"Why the hell would they change it?" one person posted on Facebook.

"The other one was so clear and easy to read."

Farmers from Queensland to Victoria have also criticised the new website, with Victorian agronomist Malcolm Taylor telling the ABC: "It's clearly been designed by IT nerds who've got no understanding of the clients' needs".

Environment spokeswoman Angie Bell said the new website was bad timing, coming ahead of storm season.

"Keeping up with the latest innovation and modernisation is, of course welcome and needed in the digital age, but what isn't welcome is the removal of easy to use and recognisable functionality features," she said.

The new rain radar maps have copped some of the fiercest criticism.

"The new map is designed to be more reliable. It provides accurate rainfall data and is built to handle higher traffic volumes," the bureau said.

Mr Stone said the website radar provided "one view of the current weather situation".

"It is not intended to replicate or replace the Bureau's weather warnings which are created by our expert meteorologists and issued ahead of a severe weather event," he said.

"We are listening and welcome your feedback on the new site - it's part of delivering a reliable service that every sector of the community can trust and rely on.

"We are moving quickly to act on the feedback received, and I am confident the community will start to see more improvements in the coming weeks," he said.

Feedback can be provided at bom.gov.au/contact or by calling 1300 754 389.