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Dust storms and giant hail batter bushfire-weary Australia
SYDNEY, Jan 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – “Apocalyptic” dust storms swept across
drought-stricken areas of Australia over the weekend, with thunder and giant
hail battering the east coast, as extreme weather patterns collided in the
bushfire-fatigued country.
The southern city of Melbourne was lashed by huge hailstones late Sunday
and fire-ravaged parts of Victoria state overnight received heavy rainfall,
prompting new extreme weather alerts.
Australia has since October been overwhelmed by an unprecedented bushfire
season made worse by climate change.
Swathes of the country have burned, hundreds of millions of animals have
died, more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed and at least 29 lives have
been lost.
Dramatic images captured over the weekend from western New South Wales show
a massive wall of dust rolling through outback towns. Locals reported being
cast into darkness in the middle of the day.
“We are used to the ritual and rush of bringing in washing, turning air
cons off, closing windows and doors, before a big dust storm hits,” Ashleigh
Hull from the rural town of Dubbo told AFP.
This one was “more spectacular” than the typical dust storm, she added.
“It was honestly like an apocalyptic movie, a huge wave coming towards us,
really quite impressive, but I just wish it actually brought a good amount of
rain, not dust.”
Violent hail storms pelted the capital Canberra Monday, with footage
showing the storm ripping branches off trees.
Emergency services were warning people there to “move cars undercover and
away from trees and power lines”.
The bureau of meteorology told people in the southeast of New South Wales
to be “well prepared” for the approaching storm.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging, locally destructive
winds, large, possibly giant hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to
flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours,” the bureau
said.
In Victoria, where bushfires continue to smoulder, heavy rainfall overnight
was welcomed in fire grounds in the north, but authorities said it also
brought with it new dangers.
State Premier Daniel Andrews said the rain meant “much more dangerous
conditions” for those operating heavy machinery to get into areas damaged by
bushfires, while landslides complicated efforts to open up closed roads.
The wet weather has brought a reprieve for many fire grounds along the east
coast, but authorities remain on high alert, warning that the bushfire season
still has weeks to run.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1058 hrs