First NSW, now southern Queensland hit by red dust

Photo / Warren Lee

The red dust storm which has enveloped Sydney and large
parts of NSW has now engulfed southern Queensland, causing traffic delays, raising health concerns and cancelling horse racing.

Traffic has slowed on major routes across Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast.

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully described it as the worst dust storm in a decade.

Drivers in central Brisbane have begun to drive with lights on as the atmosphere in the city turns orange.

A Brisbane Airport spokeswoman said the airport remained open at noon AEST.

She said airport management expected a call from air traffic control on Wednesday afternoon that will close the airport when the dust thickens.

Sydney's red dust storm is expected to remain in the city at least until this evening (NZT), Australian meteorologists say.

The weather update followed growing concern concern for the health of Sydneysiders, especially asthmatics and others suffering respiratory problems.

The NSW state ambulance service reported an increase in calls from people suffering breathing problems, and officials have urged people with asthma or heart or lung diseases not to go outside.

"Keeping yourself indoors today is the main thing to do if you have any of those conditions and particularly if you're a known sensitive sufferer such as children, older adults or pregnant women," said Wayne Smith, a senior state health official.

Sydneysiders coughed and hacked their way through their morning commute, rubbing grit from their eyes.

Some wore masks, wrapped their faces in scarves or pressed cloths over their noses and mouths to keep the dust out. Amateur photographers stopped in the middle of busy intersections to snap photos of the dust-covered streets, and cars were covered in a thin film of red.

The haze has also wreaked havoc on public transportation.

Four Air New Zealand flights to Sydney were turned back this morning due to red dust storms blanketing the city.

Three flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch had to return after setting off between 7am and 8am today, Air NZ spokesman Mark Street told NZPA.

The Auckland to Sydney flight at 11am was also cancelled.

The Christchurch and Auckland flights returned home, while the Wellington flight diverted to Auckland.

"All flights have returned and the operations team are waiting for guidance from air traffic control in Sydney about when conditions are expected to improve.

"Passengers are waiting in the airport for the go-ahead."

Sydney ferry services have been suspended with driving still hazardous in the conditions.

Sydney residents woke up earlier today to a scene that resembled a futuristic science fiction movie.

A red haze had settled over the entire city, limiting visibility to less than a kilometre.

Large parts of NSW have been shrouded in red dust blown in from the southern continent's dry interior.

The region has also been experiencing severe winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.

Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman Jane Golding said dust had settled on much of the state, including Sydney.

"It's pretty widespread," she told ABC Radio.

"We've had reports of low visibility up out as far up as Moree, Dubbo, Canberra's got some raised dust in the area and Wollongong, so it's very widespread."

The Bureau has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds in Sydney with a gale warning issued for Sydney closed waters.

"Strong to gale force west to northwest winds, gradually easing late afternoon and evening," the Bureau says.

It says "raised dust likely".

Ms Golding said the warm temperatures would continue through Wednesday.

"The winds stayed up a little bit last night and that kept the minimum temperatures up a little bit but this dust is acting like a cloud layer as well so that will be keeping the temperature from dropping out any more."

Ms Golding said the weather system was moving in from the west and Sydney could expect dusty conditions throughout the morning.

Gale force winds of up to 100km/h have hit the Hunter region before moving through Sydney early on Wednesday.

"Dubbo's still in pretty thick dust. The dust will last a bit but we're also expecting those winds to pick up as well."

Ms Golding said the barometric pressure had dropped significantly.

- AAP, with NZPA