Dust Storms in Oz

[BennyB]

Is anyone in outback Australia missing their backyard? Come on over to my place, it's in my living room :rcard

Seriously, yesterday was crazy! Early morning dust from Western New South Wales (Broken Hill area) was swept up in the winds and went down to Canberra and Sydney in the wee hours around 3am, then made it's way north to hit Brisbane around 9:30am (900km north) then hung around Brissy all day and chooffed off to Cairn today.

Because the last few nights have been hot we've been leaving the house open during the day (we have security grills) and last night I get home to see the outback in my living room - i've never seen so much dust in my life! We have a glass top dining table that is so thick with dust that you can't see through it, dust in the carpet, the bathroom, even my car that was undercover is coated in dust :rcard:rcard

Half of brisbane is off work today with sore throats and asthma related illnesses, the peak hour train this morning was empty too. Crazy stuff. Have a look at the satellite photos if you can, they are mad.

Cheerio (cough cough),
Ben

 

[podge]

It’s been on the news over here all about the dust storms.
Looks like something from a Mad Max movie.
Tis the end of the world I tells you, repent now before its to late!martial
Hope the clear up isn’t to bad mate, I’d give you a hand but I’m 12000 miles away, that and the planes have all been cancelled due to something or other.

 

[fcallagy]

Benny seen some of the photos online really looks like your living on mars. Surreal light looks great from here almighty pain in the arse if your there.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[salibandy]

No shit man, I just looked up some photos of them dust storms, and really it looks like Mars out there.

Hope your health and sanity is still intact.

 

[Mr. X]

Somebody told me they showed red dust clouds on the news. I notice we had an unusually bright red sunset here last night - perhaps a lot of dust getting into the atmosphere (the weather has been unseasonably good/dry here for the last few weeks). They also said some folks were running in the dust clouds in Oz - with apparently no fear of lung/breathing disorders. Wear a dust mask Benny (just tell folk you are a big Michael Jackson fan) - asthma/miners'-lung/etc. can last a lifetime.

 

[fcallagy]

Some pics I copied from a surf forum.

 

[Lazuli]

I experienced a dust storm in Rajasthan, India, in 2000. It was awesome. The way it changed the sunlight was insane. Mother nature reminding us she's in the driving seat once again!

Mr.X, I did a job once testing quarry workers for exposure to silicates. Silicosis is one EVIL disease and a hell of a slow, hacking, agonising demise. Definately worth masking up if possible.

 

[apneaboy]

I experienced a dust storm in Rajasthan, India, in 2000. It was awesome. The way it changed the sunlight was insane. Mother nature reminding us she's in the driving seat once again!

Mr.X, did a job once testing quarry workers for exposure to silicates. Silicosis is one EVIL disease and a hell of a slow, hacking, agonising demise. Definately worth masking up if possible.

At least its still sunny though, thats something

 

[Donna]

We get dust storms in Cyprus - nothing like those BennyB has experienced, but still not nice. It's amazing where the dust gets when it settles The sand comes from the Sahara and is a very fine dust that just hangs in the air for days, not good for people with breathing problems etc. I think we're due for a dust storm fairly soon, must remember not to do any housework just beforehand!

 

[ReefTroll]

yeah Benny it's insane huh!! My fish tank is inside, it has a fairly secure lid with filter/lights, we kept the windows etc shut, it STILL got a thick layer of dust onto the water!!!

 

[BennyB]

Here is link to the Sydney Morning Herald photos, mostly Sydney. The ones of the Harbour Bridge are amazing. Incidently the pool there was 5min walk away from where I used to live before the UK. My Aunty broke 8 swimming world records in 1 day in that pool in the 50's. I'd like to see someone even swim 8 times in a day these days!

Photos of the week | The Sydney Morning Herald

 

[fcallagy]

Mental pictures

 

[Mr. X]

Incredible colours in those pictures. Other worldly -- Mars perhaps?

 

[ReefTroll]

Very much so, that's how it appeared. Got another blast on Saturday night too!

Some photos here of the dust storms.

616 - City at night of 2nd dust storm. Normally we have a very clear view of each building in the city scape.
576 - Outside work on the first storm.
574 - outside work, direct photo of the sun.
579 - Our almost missing city during the first storm.
477 - A comparison shot.

 

[penguinator]