A squall is an abrupt and large increase of wind speed with a duration of the order of minutes which diminished rather suddenly. Wind Direction is given in the 16 compass points and is the direction the wind is coming from. Wave height is vertical distance between the top of crest and bottom of trough. Swell waves are the regular longer period waves that were generated by the winds of distant weather systems. There may be several sets of swell waves travelling in different directions, causing a confused seas state.
Sea state is the combination of wind waves and swell.
The wave and swell heights described in Bureau observations and forecasts refer to 'significant wave heights' which represent the average of the highest one-third of the waves. Some waves will be higher and some lower than the significant wave height. The probable maximum wave height can be up to twice the significant wave height. These can be even higher than the probable maximum wave height, and can result from the added influence of currents, tides, distant weather systems and shape and depth of the seabed. When a weather warning is issued it will be broadcast when first received, and then at scheduled broadcast times.