The general rule is that winds are strongest where the isobars are closest together. Thus the strongest winds are usually experienced near cold fronts, low pressure systems and in westerly airstreams south of the continent.
Winds are normally light near high pressure systems where the isobars are widely spaced.
However, because of a latitude effect winds in middle latitudes are lighter than those in the tropics with similarlyspaced isobars. In Australia, the most destructive winds over broad areas are generated by tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones exhibit a relatively clear eye, surrounded by dense wall clouds and a series of spiral rain-bands. The Bureau tracks cyclones with weather watch radar, special service reports and frequent satellite images. Charts of a cyclone moving from the Coral Sea to the Queensland coast demonstrate how isobars indicate wind speed and direction.