Skies in Queensland, NSW go red in dust storm

Ozeire

Skies in Queensland, NSW go red in dust storm

I'm sure everyone has heard about this but just incase



A DUST storm that smothered New South Wales and southern Queensland pushed air pollution levels to 1500 times their normal levels - the highest on record.

Towns across far west NSW were yesterday hit with strong winds and low visibility, and dust swept up from those areas crossed through the state, blanketing Sydney and Brisbane today.

Dr John Leys, principal research scientist with the NSW Department of Climate Change and Water, said initial estimates showed the dust plume stretched 600km along the NSW coast from Sydney to the Queensland border and Brisbane this morning, dumping up to 75,000 tonnes of dust per hour into the Tasman Sea.

"It's travelled about 1500km to get to Sydney," Dr Leys said.

Chris Eiser, manager of atmospheric science at the department, said measurements taken in Sydney today showed the highest level of particle concentration on record.

A normal day would see around 10 micrograms of particles per cubic metre of air and a bushfire might generate 500 micrograms.

Levels today soared to 15,400 micrograms per cubic metre of air at one location.

"During a dust storm, that's when we get our highest levels historically and this is the highest we've measured in Sydney," Mr Eiser said.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the NSW storm was the worst in 70 years, if not the history of the state.

"It's an extremely rare event," BoM NSW regional director Barry Hanstrum said.

“It's one of the worst, if not the worst."

Residents of Sydney and parts of NSW including Moree and Dubbo awoke to scenes likened to "armageddon", with limited visibility and orange skies. The conditions are clearing.

Forecaster Bryan Rollston said the dust, from drought-ravaged western NSW, was propelled by a change from northern to southerly winds.

Low visibility

Tony Auden, a forecaster for the Queensland weather bureau, said Brisbane experienced about one dust storm every couple of years.

“But this is definitely the worst we’ve seen in several years,” Mr Auden said.

“Visibility is at 200 metres at Brisbane Airport.”

Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the good news was a change in weather was expected to lead to clearer conditions tomorrow.

He said it was hoped water-bombing choppers would be back in the air to battle fires caused by the continuation of hot, dry, windy conditions.

More than 300 firefighters were called upon today to fight 21 blazes across the state, but Mr Roberts said it had not been as bad as expected.

Weather officials are warning of another severe storm to sweep across the southern and eastern parts of the country tomorrow and Friday with the potential to create another dust storm.

A Sydney Airport spokesman said a combination of strong cross winds and low visibility would lead to flight delays throughout the day.

“We're operating in low visibility conditions due to strong winds and dust haze,” he said.

“Departure and arrivals delays will be experienced at both Sydney and domestic and international airports."

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Sydney and Brisbane residents with allergies and respiratory problems are being told to stay inside.

The NSW Department of Education said it would ask school principals to keep students indoors today, cancel any planned physical education activities and to keep a special eye on students with asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Emergency services

The State Emergency Services said it had received 175 requests for assistance across the state after storms last night.

Hail stones reportedly as big as cricket balls hit the town of Crookwell near Goulburn, damaging windows and tiles.

Elsewhere, Victoria experienced two small earthquakes, but there were no reports of damage.

Parts of the state also received heavy rainfalls yesterday, triggering flash flood warnings.

More shower activity is expected today and a gale wind warning for coastal waters has been issued.

Hail is also expected to hit the MCG during Saturday's AFL Grand Final, the bureau said.

Why it happened - Drought comes to the city

The red dust covering Sydney and Brisbane was swept up and carried east by gale-force winds from inland NSW, where years of drought have left the earth dry.

The gusts hit Broken Hill on their way to the coast, forcing the closure of one mine. Visibility was reportedly down to just 10m in the town.

brendansmith

Its an Aboriginie curse if you ask me.

Mahatma coat

sittin tight here thismornin in Brisbane, reports are that another one should kick up sometime today or tomorrow