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The Sydney Opera House is seen as a dust storm blankets the city - Source: Reuters -
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A rare and dirty wind storm that kicked up in South Australia
and engulfed NSW may reach Brisbane and even New Zealand before the
dust settles.
Winds up to 90km/h brought a thick orange hue to the skies over NSW
as the dust storm moved east across the state.
Monash University Professor Nigel Tapper says the dust storm which engulfed Sydney is one of the largest in 70 years.
He says his trajectory analysis shows particles may reach as far
as Southland or the top of the Southern Alps on Thursday
morning.
Services to and from Sydney airport have been crippled and
authorities have raised a health alarm for people suffering from
chronic respiratory problems.
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here to see photos of the dust storm
Strong westerly winds kicked up on Tuesday afternoon and
exacerbated drought conditions in far western NSW, whisking up dust
and dirt from the already scorched earth.
"It (the dust) covers a big area of the state and certainly the
eastern half of the state at the moment is under that," the Bureau
of Meteorology's regional director Barry Hanstrum said.
"And it looks as if it will continue to move up through the
Northern Rivers area during today Hanstrum said strong winds from
South Australia sent dust across the Tasman earlier in
September.
"And likewise with this one, there's a fair chance that it will
keep going out into the Tasman Sea and it won't dissipate quickly,"
he said.
"They may see some effects of reduced visibility as far east as New
Zealand."
An intense low-pressure system formed over southern NSW and a band
of gale force winds on its northern edge developed during the
afternoon.
Hanstrum said drought conditions across the state had
intensified the rare weather event that has brought dust and
reduced visibility to most of NSW.
"The winds whipped up a great dust cloud and that's been
transferred across the whole of the state," he said.
Strong winds and dust hit Sydney at about 3.30am local time on
Wednesday, crippling Sydney airport and forcing international
arrivals to divert to Brisbane and Melbourne.
Domestic flights continue to experience long delays, while
ambulance and fire authorities have received far more than the
usual number of calls.
The NSW Ambulance Service issued a warning to people suffering from
asthma or other respiratory illnesses to stay inside where possible
and carry all medication.
Police have urged motorists to slow down and put their lights on
due to the extreme dust levels.
Hanstrum said the winds had started to ease in western NSW and
visibility had improved, with a similar easing of conditions
expected to spread east on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
"We should see some sunshine again tomorrow (Thursday) although it
will remain a bit hazy," he said.
