Groundhog
09-22-2009, 06:11 PM
...or maybe not, but this is what I awoke to this morning:
Orange haze blankets Sydney as city, NSW shrouded by dust
AAP
September 23, 2009 07:28am
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6968037,00.jpg
RESIDENTS of Sydney and parts of New South Wales (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=421&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=New South Wales)have awoken to scenes likened to "armageddon", with limited visibility and orange skies.
Large areas have been shrouded in dust as the state experiences severe winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.
Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman Jane Golding (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=421&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=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."
Fire services were kept busy all morning as fire alarms were activated around the city.
One Sydney resident said on Twitter: "Fire alarm in apartment won't shut up. Argh! I slept through it too. Sky is red also. Slightly freaking me out. Back to bed."
Sydneysiders with allergies and respiratory problems are being asked to stay inside.
Meanwhile, at least four Sydney-bound flights have been diverted to Brisbane and long delays are expected at Sydney Airport.
Wild winds are lashing the Hunter region and gale force winds of up to 100km/h are expected to hit Sydney today.
The weather 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.
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 last night, but there were no reports of damage.
The earthquakes rattled Melbourne's south about 14 seconds apart and hit the Mornington Peninsula region at about 6.20pm (AEST) yesterday, Geoscience Australia seismologist David Jepson said.
The quakes recorded magnitudes of 3.0 and 2.6 about 20km south of Frankston.
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.
And authorities have warned Queensland residents to prepare their bushfire plans.
Total fire bans remain in place over much of Queensland as unseasonal spring weather continues.
Hot dry conditions yesterday sparked a dozen grass fires and bushfires from Townsville in the north to the southeast corner.
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6968381,00.jpg
I'm looking out my window over Darling Harbour and visibility is near zero. It's the creepiest kind of red/yellow hue, it looks like nuclear fallout.
Orange haze blankets Sydney as city, NSW shrouded by dust
AAP
September 23, 2009 07:28am
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6968037,00.jpg
RESIDENTS of Sydney and parts of New South Wales (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=421&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=New South Wales)have awoken to scenes likened to "armageddon", with limited visibility and orange skies.
Large areas have been shrouded in dust as the state experiences severe winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.
Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman Jane Golding (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=421&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=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."
Fire services were kept busy all morning as fire alarms were activated around the city.
One Sydney resident said on Twitter: "Fire alarm in apartment won't shut up. Argh! I slept through it too. Sky is red also. Slightly freaking me out. Back to bed."
Sydneysiders with allergies and respiratory problems are being asked to stay inside.
Meanwhile, at least four Sydney-bound flights have been diverted to Brisbane and long delays are expected at Sydney Airport.
Wild winds are lashing the Hunter region and gale force winds of up to 100km/h are expected to hit Sydney today.
The weather 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.
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 last night, but there were no reports of damage.
The earthquakes rattled Melbourne's south about 14 seconds apart and hit the Mornington Peninsula region at about 6.20pm (AEST) yesterday, Geoscience Australia seismologist David Jepson said.
The quakes recorded magnitudes of 3.0 and 2.6 about 20km south of Frankston.
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.
And authorities have warned Queensland residents to prepare their bushfire plans.
Total fire bans remain in place over much of Queensland as unseasonal spring weather continues.
Hot dry conditions yesterday sparked a dozen grass fires and bushfires from Townsville in the north to the southeast corner.
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6968381,00.jpg
I'm looking out my window over Darling Harbour and visibility is near zero. It's the creepiest kind of red/yellow hue, it looks like nuclear fallout.