People With Breathing Issues at Risk as Dangerous Dust Storm Blankets South Australia

Across South Australia, a health alert has been issued with powerful, warm winds producing more hazardous dust storms.

The Dangerous Surf Conditions

People suffering from asthma and breathing issues are being encouraged to remain indoors where possible and get medical advice if their condition becomes critical after the dust set in yesterday. Warning has been given to drivers that the dust storm will possibly impact the morning commute.

The strong winds are entering from either side of a cold front which is spreading out into the lower end of South Australia and the Northern Territory on the tail of a low that has got in from the Bight overnight. Meteorologists are also warning of dangerous surf conditions which are predicted to smash the southeast coastline of Queensland.

Felim Hanniffy, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster said: "It's because of quite a great low-pressure system that progressed and stays slow moving off the north island of New Zealand." He added that it seems the most powerful part of the swell will occur on Tuesday but still sort of a strong swell on Wednesday.

The Swell

The swell is expected to get to three meters in height and warnings have been given for the Sunshine Coast Gold Coast, and Fraser Coast, with likely closures of beach. Mr. Hanniffy said there is also a possibility for Queensland's surf to reach dangerous levels again later this week.

"The swell does calm back a touch but it will still stay increased through the mid-week period and there's a possibility for that swell to rise back up to dangerous levels later in the week as you approach Friday and the weekend," he said. The low coming in over the Bight will also bring a trough in which will bring about some showers and storms for southern region of the Northern Territory and less hot temperatures across Western Australia and Victoria.

A high is boosting showers across coastal regions of Queensland which will follow the hazardous surf - leaving a large portion of the state wet in the next 48 hours. Tasmania and the capital will also experience wet weather with temperatures not rising beyond 20C for either.

Dust Storms

They are usually defined as catastrophic weather events where great amounts of dust particles are raised and conveyed by powerful winds, it is characterized by suddenness, weak horizontal visibility (< 1 km), not too long duration, and serious destruction.

The occurrence of dust storms is generally a role of natural climatic factors (precipitation, surface wind speed, and temperature) and human activity, while it is still uncertain which one is the main factor controlling the magnitude, frequency, and extent of the dust storm. The instrumental records that is available are not long but too short to clear up these questions.

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