Sydney: Hazardous Dust Storm Blankets

A dust storm has swept across eastern Australia and blanketed Sydney on Wednesday (September 23), disrupting transport and forcing people to stay indoors.

The dust has shrouded Sydney and its icons in a red glow, shocking Sydney residents.

„I don’t know if first we thought it was fire, then we thought it is like the sun that is trying to come through then we had to quickly turn on the TV to figure out what was actually happening because we were a bit worried.“

„When I was sitting on the train I could taste the dust as I was coming close to the city, it was horrible.“

International flights were diverted and ferries on Sydney Harbor suspended, while motorists were warned to take care on roads.

More than 200 people called emergency services with breathing difficulties.

New South Wales State recorded pollutant levels as high as 4,164 in Sydney… anything above 200 is considered hazardous.

Senior meteorologist Dick Whitaker explained how the unusual dust storm occurred.

[Dick Whitaker, Senior Meteorologist]:
„Well the short answer, the dust storm is caused by a very powerful cold front that swept across New South Wales and southern Queensland and very, very strong winds associated with this front. Because the inland parts are so dry, it picked up vast quantities of top soil which then got pushed across towards the coast, blanketing Sydney and also reaching Brisbane later in the day.“

Dust storms in Australia, the world’s driest inhabited continent with a vast desert-like outback interior, are not uncommon.

Australian weather officials are warning that another severe storm will sweep across the southern and eastern parts of the country on Thursday and Friday.

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