Huge dust storms in Australia hit central New South Wales

A child runs toward a dust storm in Mullengudgery in New South Wales, Australia, 19 January 2020. Dust storms hit many parts of Australia's western New South Wales as a prolonged drought continues. Photo: AFP — A child runs toward a dust storm in Mullengudgery in New South Wales, Australia, 19 January 2020. Dust storms hit many parts of Australia’s western New South Wales as a prolonged drought continues. Photo: AFP

19 January 2020 (Australian Asssociated Press) – Damaging winds produced by thunderstorms across central New South Wales have whipped up dust storms that turned daytime into night in some towns.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a series of severe thunderstorm warnings on Sunday evening for inland NSW with the associated winds generating massive dust clouds.

Videos posted to social media showed dust storms descending on Dubbo and nearby towns that were so thick they blocked out the sun.

Drone footage over the central New South Wales town of Parkes has captured a huge wall of dust moving across the landscape, 19 January 2020. Damaging winds produced by thunderstorms across the state whipped up the dust storms, turning daytime into night in some towns. Video: The Guardian

A gust of 94 km/h was recorded at Parkes about 6.30pm while a gust of 107 km/h was recorded at Dubbo about 7.45pm, the bureau said.

A bureau meteorologist, Rose Barr, said Sunday’s significant rain was concentrated across central and northern parts of the state on, and east, of the ranges.

Nyngan‘s Grace Behsman took this video of a huge dust storm rolling in as they approached town. Watch til end – scary moment when the storm overtakes and everything goes black. The dust storm has swept the west & is encroaching Dubbo. Remember: not everyone’s celebrating rain 😔 pic.twitter.com/5VMLrFbrrT
— Lucy Thackray (@LucyThack) January 19, 2020

Rain and hail also lashed Victoria, sparking almost 1500 calls for assistance with more severe weather on the way as bushfires continue. The State Emergency Service received 1453 calls for assistance since Sunday morning, more than 1000 of them for building damage.

Many towns on the NSW mid-north coast and the northern rivers regions received between 100mm and 180mm from 9am to 10.30pm on Sunday.

In the southern part of the state, high winds saw storms race overhead quickly, resulting in lower measured falls. [more]

Huge dust storms in Australia hit central New South Wales