Residents woke to hazy skies and poor air quality after dust swept through the regions. Illawarra Stormchasers/Angellscapes Photography.
A dusty haze engulfed regions across NSW and the ACT on Tuesday morning (27 May) reducing visibility and air quality, but it is expected to quickly ease as winds pick up.
A Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) spokesperson said the raised dust developed yesterday in South Australia ahead of a strong cold front and affected Lower Western and Riverina districts before drifting east overnight to the ACT, Southern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Illawarra, South Coast and Sydney.
The dust cloud reduced visibility in some parts to as little as 300 metres early in the morning.
Air quality has improved throughout the day due to freshening westerly winds picking up, with damaging gusts around 90 km/h possible in the early afternoon around the Illawarra, Southern Ranges, Blue Mountains and Northern Ranges before they’re expected to ease this evening.
While some dust still lingers, residents are being urged to take precautions such as avoiding outdoor activities or vigorous exercise, using masks or damp cloths and staying in air-conditioned premises if possible.
If travelling in low visibility conditions, motorists are asked to reduce speed and be prepared to pull over to the side of the road if visibility deteriorates to less than 100 metres.
Asthmatics and people with respiratory conditions should follow their prescribed treatment plan if they develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing or chest pain and seek medical advice if they do not settle.
To stay up to date on the latest weather developments, visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
