The Bureau of Meteorology’s 31st annual research and development workshop was held in Melbourne, in November 2019 and had the theme ‘Forecasting for the Future: New science for improved weather, water, ocean and climate services’. The workshop brought together experts from across these fields to discuss ways they could work together to provide the Australian and international community with improved services and improved decision-making abilities, resulting in greater impact and value. This Research Front presents five papers drawn from the presentations relating to the workshop themes.