The Dust Storm of 2009

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   darksideposted 14 years ago

   Wednesday morning when I went outside I saw the strangest thing. A reddish/orangey haze that blocked from view anything about 500 or so metres away.
   
   It was like there was a bush fire, somewhere, but without the smell of smoke.
   
   Or was it a heavy mist. But there was no coolness or moisture in the air.
   
   I'd find out later that it was a dust storm. The wind picked up later and by late afternoon it was really blowing a gale.
   
   I'd hate to have been an asthmatic yesterday.
   
   Any other Aussie Hubbers experience it?

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      rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

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         rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         oops, I inserted my response in your text. I'll try again.
         I'm not Aussie, but amazed at such a comprehensive article in Wikipedia already written up and posted. thanks for the link!

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            darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I was over at Wikipedia checking up some information and I saw it on the front page in the news column. I was quite surprised too that Wikipedian's were so quick to slap it all together.

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      Hovalisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yup, I certainly did! I woke up to a pink haze that could be clearly seen through my curtains and blind. Went to let the cat out and ended up just standing at the back door. I couldn't really comprehend what I was seeing at first! A totally red atmosphere. It reminded me of the pictures of Mars from the rover.
      
      Drove to work in it, after getting a thick layer of dust off the windscreen. It was weird watching it change colour as the sun got higher in the sky. First, blood red. Then, orange. And then a yellow haze.
      
      I've never seen anything like it, truly. I lived in the country for years, and we  got the occasional dust storm. In the mid-Hunter Valley, being near open cut coal mines dust comes with the territory, but this was a singular experience, to be sure!

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         darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You still out in the Hunter Valley?

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            Hovalisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            No, I'm in Sydney now. I have lots of family in the mid-Hunter. My mother's family has a long history there, going back to Convict times, and there's still a lot there. Mainly around the Vineyards (they go back a quite a few generations in the Pokolbin area), and up around Singleton (since they are miners, or have retired from the mines, you know how it is), and a few in Newcastle as well.
            
            I still get up there occasionally. :-)

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   cosetteposted 14 years ago

   omgsh. that is incredibly scary. never seen anything like it

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      Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Though I haven't been to the land of Aus (Oz), the western US where I am, has these kinds of things, not infrequently. Fires in California also cause a similar condition because of smoke that permeates up to thousands of miles. What is really disarming is to watch the sun or moon through the haze. Freakish glows of orange to red.
      
      It's terrible for anyone with upper respiratory problems.

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         darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It was a lot like the side effect of an out of control fire. Having experienced that myself the first thing I noticed was the absence of the smell. So I was quite confused.
         
         I thought it was just localized, so I was surprised to find that it had covered the whole state.
         
         It was strange, but no where near as concerning as a fire obviously.

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   megs78posted 14 years ago

   I watched it on the news.  Scary stuff.  Was it hard on your lungs?

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      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I noticed it later in the day. At one point I could taste it in my throat. Then I had to go out and my chest felt congested. Like I was full of phelgm and had the onset of the flu.

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   megs78posted 14 years ago

   huh?

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      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ignore it. I've reported the post.

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         megs78posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Darkside.  I know I should ignore it, but its disconcerting all the same.

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            Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            LOL
            [whispered: "So are the religion forums..."]

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   ScarletRyan1970posted 14 years ago

   Hello,
   
   I was going to write here but changed my mind.
   Too much fighting.Peace.

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      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting. A person had signed up less than an hour ago, left a rude message, and this constitutes fighting?

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         Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, more like confusion, since I can't possibly see a reason for such a response. Strange.

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      rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      

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   SunSevenposted 14 years ago

   Saw those pictures in the newspapers here, this morning.

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   manlypoetrymanposted 14 years ago

   Darkside: I'm sure that was an unusual event to have to witness first hand...? You are curious about the Asthmatic persons...that is a good question. I also wonder how they are faring? I'm also thinking that would effect machinery...real bad. My best...to your neck of Aussie land in dealing with this...!

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      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think I'm still feeling the effects of it. I couldn't sleep and got up about half an hour ago (5:30am) because of the phelgm in my lungs and throat and this taste like clay.
      
      Yo Pearldiver and any asthmatics in New Zealand, stay indoors!

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   Pearldiverposted 14 years ago

   Yep Thx alot Australia... Your Dust Storm was so bad that it is about to reach the shores of New Zealand today.  Is your Outback still there?

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      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Seriously? Let me know how it goes!

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   sandra rinckposted 14 years ago

   I saw that on the news yesterday. Creepy!  I hope you're feeling better darkside. 

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    relacheposted 14 years ago

    Darkside, I know you have some animals on your land.  Are they doing okay with all the dust?

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       darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       The dust has now settled but yes, they're doing well.
       
       The winds were huge so I kept the chickens in the coop because I seriously thought the chicks (who aren't little baby ones, I guess they're teenagers) would have been blown away.
       
       I would have kept the sheep, lamb and goat locked up too but they'd have been too hungry. They have their heads down eating and instinctively point their butt at the oncoming wind so they were okay. We kept the dogs inside. One of them is scared of storms and wind anyway and shook like a leaf the whole time.
       
       I didn't see any native animals at all.

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    stricktlydatingposted 14 years ago

    Yes it was an incredible experience. It looked so beautiful, except the dust it left behind is so annoying! I'm told we're due for more dust tomorrow (Saturday - I'm in Sydney).

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    TMinutposted 14 years ago

    The wikipedia article said there were concerns that it may contain radioactive dust, did they get that question settled?

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    Lady_Eposted 14 years ago

    Hope you don't witness it again. Its worrying to watch the News on the "environmental happenings" should I say, in Australia. e.g The Wild fire's etc.

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    darksideposted 14 years ago

    It's happened again. It was predicted to come too. Some time in the early hours of this morning the winds hit. Looking out now there's all that dust (it must be very fine, you can't notice it close). But it must be overcast (which I can't see) because there's no oranges and reds.

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    thranaxposted 14 years ago

    Wow, storms of Dust Dirt and Sand must be a scary but interesting thing to experience.
    
    Where Im from the worst weather I experienced were Nor-Easters. The name we give blizzard like conditions here in New England.
    
    ~thranax~

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    LondonGirlposted 14 years ago

    I saw it on the BBC website - looked terrifying! And I bet it was really hard on anyone with breathing difficulties.

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    Laurie Favelleposted 14 years ago

    Latest reporting on the recent dust storm is that it originated in central Australia, most probably from Lake Eyre.  Lake Eyre is - usually - a very large dry salt lake ( the world land speed records were set there some decades ago).  The suggestion is that seasonal flooding, having dried, had left large deposits of dry dirt that had been carried to Lake Eyre in flooded rivers and creeks.  This is a seasonal occurrence.  What is unusual is the confluence of wind, weather patterns and dust, resulting in the dust storms across to the east coast and NZ (sorry NZ - first our possums and now dust).
    Regarding the radio active dust report, that was related to the planned expansion of a uranium mine in South Australia.  The suggestion was made that such an expansion, which involved open cut mining and the deposit of residue and tailings onto the surface rather than underground, posed a threat should dust storms originate or pass over this area of contamination. Hope this helps.

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       Hovalisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I heard most of the dust came from around Lake Eyre. I thought that the concern was about the Maralinga nuclear test site. I hadn't thought about the Olympic Dam mine...

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    Laurie Favelleposted 14 years ago

    Hovalis - thanks, you are quite correct.  Had a seniors moment and couldn't recall the detail.  Just put up a quick hub with some photos I had lying around.  You and others may be interested http://hubpages.com/hub/Dust-Storms-in-Australia

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