Author Topic: Massive Dust Storm Hits Sydney (Read 11693 times)

Kerry · « **on:** September 22, 2009, 08:14:38 pm »

Massive Dust Storm Hits Sydney

A massive dust storm has descended upon my beautiful home town of Sydney this morning.

It's about 9.30 on Wednesday morning here in Sydney as I write this post. I woke this morning to find the sky a startling shade of orange. Everything is coated in a fine orange dust.

Yesterday was a gloriously warm, sunny spring day. Almost too hot for spring. More like summer. Last night's news bulletins warned of a massive dust storm descending upon Sydney from the west. The television news showed images of Australia's capital city, Canberra, situated to Sydney's south-west. Visibility looked minimal there, through a dense, orange haze. And that's exactly what Sydney has woken to this morning. The air is dense with orange dust and the wind is blowing furiously. The beautiful day of yesterday has turned into a cold, dark, overcast day, with no sunshine and minimal visibility. In the 59 years I've lived in Sydney, I have never seen anyhting like this. Is it something to do with global warming, I wonder? Climate change? Whatever it is, I don't like it. It looks like the end of the world out there!

Yes, that is Sydney's iconic and much-loved Opera House through the gloom (upper left)

Martin Place in the heart of Sydney, on what should be a sunny spring morning!

LauraGigs · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2009, 08:19:19 pm »

Wow, the photos definitely have an armageddon-like feel to them. I hope you and your loved ones stay healthy through this and have no sensitivities or asthma or anything. When is it supposed to clear?

Kerry · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2009, 08:32:29 pm »

Quote from: LauraGigs on September 22, 2009, 08:19:19 pm

Wow, the photos definitely have an armageddon-like feel to them. I hope you and your loved ones stay healthy through this and have no sensitivities or asthma or anything. When is it supposed to clear?

I've not heard any news on when it's expected to clear, Laura. The wind is blowing furiously from the west, so I hope it blows out to sea quick smart. As I write this, I can hear sirens sounding in the distance. There are sure to be lots of car accidents with such low visibility. It'll be a bad day for asthmatics and those with respiratory ailments. It won't be good for the very young and the elderly, either. Hope it blows over quickly.

David In Indy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2009, 08:59:21 pm »

Oh God Kerry! That looks awful! Please stay safe over there okay?

CellarDweller · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2009, 09:02:38 pm »

Damn!

Kerry, keep us posted on everything!

dejavu · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2009, 09:16:35 pm »

Really strange pictures of the orange sky.

Hope everyone stays well.

Meryl · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2009, 09:17:47 pm »

What a GDBOAUS!

Can the days of Mad Max have come upon Oz at last?

Hope it clears away quickly, Kerry. Keep safe!

David In Indy · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2009, 09:42:49 pm »

I remember when they had that big forest fire in the Smoky Mountains about 20 years ago. We could see and smell the smoke here in Indiana. It looked as if those fires were only down the street from us and yet they were 350-400 miles away in eastern Tennessee and North Carolina. It's weird how weather systems can pick up things like smoke or sand and carry it for hundreds of miles.

Like Chuck said, please keep us posted Kerry! I hope everything settles down soon. It must be very frightening.

{{{KERRY}}}

{{{SYDNEY}}}

Kerry · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2009, 10:01:33 pm »

It's approaching noon now and the light outside is still strangely post-apocalyptic!

The orange haze contnues to obscure the sun, but it's not as intense as it was earlier this morning.

Thanks everyone, for your kind messages of concern.

I'll post updates as the day progresses.

Berit · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2009, 01:24:36 am »

Never seen anything like that..... $:-\$ ....looks nasty.....

Take care, Kerry

Kerry · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2009, 02:43:12 am »

Quote from: Berit on September 23, 2009, 01:24:36 am

Never seen anything like that..... $:-\$ ....looks nasty.....

Take care, Kerry

Thank you kindly, Berit. It's nearly 5 p.m. here and we have blue sky at last. Started clearing mid-afternoon. It seems to have blown over. It's still very windy. Everything's covered in orange dust. I now have an orange car!

Kerry · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2009, 02:53:50 am »

Oops, looks like I spoke too soon. Just checked the local paper online and they're predicting it could last 3 days!!!

Maybe there's a second wave on the way!

Read all about it here:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/indepth/sydney-dust-storm

sel · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2009, 03:01:43 am »

Glad to hear you're ok Kerry. Hope you don't have far to go when you go to work, to the supermarket, etc...
Thinking of you.

David In Indy · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2009, 04:13:02 am »

Quote from: Kerry on September 23, 2009, 02:43:12 am

Thank you kindly, Berit. It's nearly 5 p.m. here and we have blue sky at last. Started clearing mid-afternoon. It seems to have blown over. It's still very windy. Everything's covered in orange dust. I now have an orange car!

Kerry, you should scoop up a little bit of that dust/sand and put it in a jar. It will make an interesting conversation piece years from now. It certainly isn't fun right now, but people will remember this event for a very long time. Saving the dust in a jar would be a bit like preserving a piece of history.

Kelda · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2009, 04:17:58 am »

posting so I can find this later so I can view the photos (can't see these at work).

the news report photos do look very earie. (sp??) but I do love the photo of the little girl(?) jumping into the air!

And good idea David.. do a few.. somebody not in Oz will buy it on ebay!

Did you ever set up that ebay shop btw? For your paintings?

Kelda · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2009, 01:43:26 pm »

a collection of flickr photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticbag/galleries/72157622310168099/#photo_3945784916

Meryl · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2009, 03:26:33 pm »

Those are fabulous, thanks, Kelda.

Kerry · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:52:16 pm »

Quote from: sel on September 23, 2009, 03:01:43 am

Glad to hear you're ok Kerry. Hope you don't have far to go when you go to work, to the supermarket, etc...
Thinking of you.

I woke to a beautifully clear, glorious spring morning today, sel. It appears to have all blown over. News reports are saying the last such dust storm was 70 years ago! Let's hope the next one won't be for another 70 years. Certainly, I won't be here to see it!

Quote from: David In Indy on September 23, 2009, 04:13:02 am

Kerry, you should scoop up a little bit of that dust/sand and put it in a jar. It will make an interesting conversation piece years from now. It certainly isn't fun right now, but people will remember this event for a very long time. Saving the dust in a jar would be a bit like preserving a piece of history.

I wish I'd thought to do that, David. At the time, I just wanted to get rid of it. And I've already hosed off my car. I should have thought to keep a souvenir. $:-\$

Quote from: Kelda on September 23, 2009, 04:17:58 am

.. somebody not in Oz will buy it on ebay!

Did you ever set up that ebay shop btw? For your paintings?

Damn, I wish I'd've thought to keep some. It'd probably get big bucks on eBay. Another lost opportunity. Story of my life.

I never did get around to selling my paintings on eBay, Kelda. There never seems to be enough time. Where has this year gone? I can't believe it's September already. Maybe next year.

Kerry · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2009, 05:59:34 pm »

Quote from: Kelda on September 23, 2009, 01:43:26 pm

a collection of flickr photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticbag/galleries/72157622310168099/#photo_3945784916

Thanks for posting those amazing pics, Kelda. That's exactly how it was. No sepia filter necessary!

I didn't take any pics myself because I am away from home at present, house-sitting for friends on Sydney's Northern Beaches, while they're away on vacation in Queensland (the same people I helped with house painting recently), and I don't have my camera with me.

Kelda · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:00:36 pm »

Quote from: Kerry on September 23, 2009, 05:52:16 pm

I never did get around to selling my paintings on eBay, Kelda. There never seems to be enough time. Where has this year gone? I can't believe it's September already. Maybe next year.

Sure enough.

You should get it set up Kerry - I think you'd already have a few pre-orders from here btw!

Enjoy the housesitting btw!

Kerry · « **Reply #20 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:10:13 pm »

Quote from: Kelda on September 23, 2009, 06:00:36 pm

Sure enough.

You should get it set up Kerry - I think you'd already have a few pre-orders from here btw!

Enjoy the housesitting btw!

I did sell something on eBay once, as a one-off only, but I don't know how to set-up what you call an "eBay shop." How do I do that? Is it easy to do? I don't suppose you could give me a few pointers on how to set up my own shop on eBay? Is it free to do? Any tips you could give me would be muchly appreciated, Kelda.

Kelda · « **Reply #21 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:15:10 pm »

Its free as far as I believe Kerry!

I dont have a shop as I sell stuff sporadically but you need a payapl account for starters - as people general buy using paypal these days. Here's some links!

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/sell/basics/skills.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/sell/basics/faqs.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/storefronts/start.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/storefronts/seller-landing.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/storefronts/openbenefits.html

Kerry · « **Reply #22 on:** September 23, 2009, 06:24:45 pm »

Quote from: Kelda on September 23, 2009, 06:15:10 pm

Its free as far as I believe Kerry!

I dont have a shop as I sell stuff sporadically but you need a payapl account for starters - as people general buy using paypal these days. Here's some links!

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/sell/basics/skills.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/sell/basics/faqs.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/storefronts/start.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/storefronts/seller-landing.html
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/storefronts/openbenefits.html

Thank you kindly for that info, Kelda. That may give me a bit of a spurt-on.

I'll just go have some breakfast and then look through your links at my leisure. I painted a small abstract earlier this year, specifically for sale on eBay, so I have one painting ready to go in the shop window, when I open my shop. Depending on how successful I am with it, I may paint (and sell) more. Failure, thy name is procrastination!!! I've just gotta get off my backside and get organised! I need an agent! Thanks again for the links, Kelda.

Shasta542 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 23, 2009, 07:04:09 pm »

Hi Kerry! I'm glad that you made it okay through the storm! Did businesses or schools have to close?

Kerry · « **Reply #24 on:** September 23, 2009, 07:32:47 pm »

Quote from: Shasta542 on September 23, 2009, 07:04:09 pm

Hi Kerry! I'm glad that you made it okay through the storm! Did businesses or schools have to close?

Yep, it was all done and dusted (groan!) in 24 hours, Shasta, but looked like the end of the world at the time!

I didn't hear of businesses or schools closing. However, many flights to Sydney airport were either cancelled or diverted. Sydney's extensive ferry fleet was mostly cancelled for the day and extra buses were put on to carry the ferry passengers the long way around. On last night's television news it was reported that restaurants and cafes couldn't serve at their outdoor tables. And main street, shop-front stores had lots of trouble keeping their indoor stock clean, 'cause everytime a customer opened the front door, they took a ton of dust in with them, carried on the fierce winds that were blowing. Also, most schools kept children indoors throughout the day and they had their lunch indoors, rather than in the school yard.

I'm glad to see the end of it. Where I'm house-sitting this week, I'm looking after my friend's prized rose garden while he's away. Well, what a mess it was yesterday! All covered in orange dust. But despite the fierce winds, I noticed this morning that only three stems have been broken. All the other roses survived. I gave them a good hosing this morning and they're looking lovely now.

My breathing became quite laboured last night and I had to take an allergy pill, which solved the problem and I slept soundly.

Shasta542 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 23, 2009, 07:43:56 pm »

Quote from: Kerry on September 23, 2009, 07:32:47 pm

Yep, it was all done and dusted (groan!) in 24 hours, Shasta, but looked like the end of the world at the time!

I didn't hear of businesses or schools closing. However, many flights to Sydney airport were either cancelled or diverted. Sydney's extensive ferry fleet was mostly cancelled for the day and extra buses were put on to carry the ferry passengers the long way around. On last night's television news it was reported that restaurants and cafes couldn't serve at their outdoor tables. And main street, shop-front stores had lots of trouble keeping their indoor stock clean, 'cause everytime a customer opened the front door, they took a ton of dust in with them, carried on the fierce winds that were blowing. Also, most schools kept children indoors throughout the day and they had their lunch indoors, rather than in the school yard.

I'm glad to see the end of it. Where I'm house-sitting this week, I'm looking after my friend's prized rose garden while he's away. Well, what a mess it was yesterday! All covered in orange dust. But despite the fierce winds, I noticed this morning that only three stems have been broken. All the other roses survived. I gave them a good hosing this morning and they're looking lovely now.

My breathing became quite laboured last night and I had to take an allergy pill, which solved the problem and I slept soundly.

The dust storm would have probably looked weird from an airplane--maybe pretty scary too!

Many children have asthma, so that was wise to keep them inside while all that was going on. I'm glad to hear that your allergy medicine worked to help your breathing problem.

And--your friends will be happy to see their roses none the worse for the storm!

Will you have to dust when you get home--or is your place pretty airtight? It would have come in through my window panes and under the door jambs for sure!

Take care and here's to blue clear skies!!

Kerry · « **Reply #26 on:** September 23, 2009, 07:58:44 pm »

Quote from: Shasta542 on September 23, 2009, 07:43:56 pm

Will you have to dust when you get home--or is your place pretty airtight? It would have come in through my window panes and under the door jambs for sure!

I sealed my apartment off and closed the blinds before I left but I'm still expecting to find lots of dust to have come in through the door jambs leading out to the balconies. I'm worried about my own plants. I have two 9ft fig trees in big terracotta tubs. I hope they're still standing. Fingers crossed! Most of my plants are quite rugged, except for a beautiful tropical orchid that's recently come into bloom. The perfume is staggeringly beautiful. It's very delicate and I'm expecting to find it in a bad way when I return.

ifyoucantfixit · « **Reply #27 on:** September 23, 2009, 08:28:20 pm »

You poor people. That is surely an unhealthy situation for everyone. I remember when I was a child, we
lived in central California on the west coast of USA. It was at the end of the valley, and we were in the bottom
end of the bowl. When we got dust storms, we got all the bad stuff that was carried all the way down the
valley, and built up to at end where the mountains were. We were in the swamp cooler zone, not the AC area or time.All along the side of the hallway, there was a black line. All the heaviest materials were brought in thru the cooler, which was vented into the hall, built up along the sides of the wall, on the light gold colored carpet. It was horrid. It
didnt matter how much vacuuming that we did, it was always there. I know that has a lot to do with the bad
lung problems my mom had, and her husband died from lung cancer. I sure hope that stuff is gone soon.
Its definitely spooky looking even if its not dangerous. All my best for all of you.

Kerry · « **Reply #28 on:** September 23, 2009, 08:45:24 pm »

It's all gone now, Janice. It's a beautiful, clear, sunny spring morning here today (Thursday), with just the slightest, gentle, sea breeze blowing. Just like the day before yesterday. Yesterday was a real ring-in. Apparently all that dust had blown from thousands of miles away in outback South Australia!

It definitely had the smell of the Outback about it, and though I have never visited the Outback, I now feel that it has most definitely visited me.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #29 on:** September 24, 2009, 09:28:38 pm »

Yo Kerry!

Y'all better get the city of Sydney cleaned up before I arrive!

I expect it to be sparking!

Kerry · « **Reply #30 on:** September 24, 2009, 09:56:33 pm »

Quote from: CellarDweller on September 24, 2009, 09:28:38 pm

Yo Kerry!

Y'all better get the city of Sydney cleaned up before I arrive!

I expect it to be sparking!

Haha, it's all sparkling clean already, Chuck.

The media's been filled with stories about "the big clean-up" following "the big dust storm." Car wash businesses have been making a mint, with cars queueing out the door, and proprietors having to put-on extra staff to cope with the demand. My favourite story about the clean-up concerns tonight's epic clash between rugby league star teams the Bulldogs and the Eels at ANZ Stadium, where 80,000 seats had to be cleaned of red-dust, prior to the game, by an army of cleaners. Pic here:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/indepth/sport-meetings-under-a-dusty-cloud/story-fn44v660-1225778930489

I'm sure Sydney will put-on it's best face for you, Chuck. October is a lovely time of year. It's mid-spring. The harbour will be at it glorious best and the air will be heavy with the scent of spring blossom. That is, of course, unless we have another dust storm!

Haha, just kiding!

The last one was 70 years ago and the likelihood of another is remote, indeed.

Kelda · « **Reply #31 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:21:31 am »

I hadn't realised you were going through Oz on your way to NZ Chuck! How cool!

News:

Author Topic: Massive Dust Storm Hits Sydney (Read 11693 times)