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Sydney dust storm: some residents advised to stay inside due to ‘extremely poor’ air quality More interstate dust storms expected if South Australia drought continues, expert warns
(about 2 hours later)
Haze hits Sydney suburbs after crossing NSW from South Australia and Victoria Haze hits Sydney suburbs on Tuesday morning after crossing NSW from SA and Victoria
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Parts of Sydney faced “extremely poor” air quality warnings on Tuesday morning as a dust storm swept eastwards from inland Australia.Parts of Sydney faced “extremely poor” air quality warnings on Tuesday morning as a dust storm swept eastwards from inland Australia.
Sydney’s north-west and central west including Parramatta had the heaviest air pollution, with very poor air quality also observed across Sydney stretching as far south as Goulburn and as far north as Muswellbrook, according to official pollution monitoring stations.Sydney’s north-west and central west including Parramatta had the heaviest air pollution, with very poor air quality also observed across Sydney stretching as far south as Goulburn and as far north as Muswellbrook, according to official pollution monitoring stations.
Those sensitive to air pollution were advised to stay indoors and close windows and doors until air quality improved, or to travel to places with air conditioning if preferred to their homes, the state government said, as a “dust storm sweeping across NSW is impacting air quality across the state”. Tegan Clarke, studying a PhD at Australian National University, said the drought in South Australia had created the conditions to form the dust storm.
The government warned there were high levels of PM10 particles, a common feature of bushfire smoke or dust storms. PM10 particles have a diameter of 10 micrometres or less and are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. Winds from a cold front had blown dust over parts of Victoria and NSW, she said.
Even those without particular sensitivities were advised to avoid outdoor physical activity if they develop symptoms such as coughing or a shortness of breath, and when indoors, to close windows and doors. “If drought conditions continue, we can expect to see more local dust emissions out of South Australia.”
The dust storm has travelled from South Australia, where it hit the town of Orroroo on Monday, blocking out the sky and covering the area in an orange haze. The dust storm hit the town of Orroroo in SA on Monday, blocking out the sky in an orange haze.
It also blanketed areas of regional Victoria on Monday afternoon, including Mildura in the state’s north-west.It also blanketed areas of regional Victoria on Monday afternoon, including Mildura in the state’s north-west.
The dust storms and haze affecting Australia’s south-east were forecast to clear in the afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Dean Narramore, a bureau meteorologist, said south-westerly winds would clear out the dust haze affecting Sydney and surrounds in the next few hours. Dust also swept through Melbourne, Canberra and surrounding regions early Tuesday morning.
“It’s just lingering on the east coast in the next couple of hours, and then it’s going to be all gone by this afternoon,” he said. Dr Christine Cowie, an environmental epidemiologist at UNSW, said infants, young children and the elderly were susceptible to the effects of air pollution from dust storms. Anyone with a breathing condition was also at risk.
Dust also swept through Melbourne, Canberra and surrounding regions early Tuesday morning after strong winds kicked up a haze out of drought-affected areas in South Australia and Victoria’s west, Narramore said. “They may feel like they can’t get enough oxygen,” she said.
He said those conditions have since eased but heavy and possibly damaging winds are still set to impact parts of south-west NSW. The government warned there were high levels of PM10 particles, a common feature of bushfire smoke or dust storms. PM10 particles are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs.
The BoM said dry conditions and strong winds caused the large dust clouds to form, leading to poor visibility and bad driving conditions that prompted some road closures. Even those without particular sensitivities were advised to avoid outdoor physical activity if they develop symptoms such as coughing or a shortness of breath, and when indoors, to close windows and doors.
Face masks would also help, Cowie said.
This article was amended on 27 May 2025. An earlier version incorrectly stated that the dust storm had blown in to Sydney from the east.This article was amended on 27 May 2025. An earlier version incorrectly stated that the dust storm had blown in to Sydney from the east.