Damaging winds produced by thunderstorms across central NSW have whipped up dust storms that turned daytime into night in some towns on Sunday, and the brown clouds are heading towards Sydney.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a series of severe thunderstorm warnings on Sunday evening for inland NSW, with the associated winds kicking up massive dust clouds.
Spectacular dust storms impacted much of western NSW on Sunday. Credit:Nick Moir
Meteorologist Abrar Shabren said the clouds are now heading towards Sydney, although they are no longer technically a storm. As the dust approaches the coast, he said, it is reducing in density.
However, with more thunderstorms forecast, it's likely that some of the dust will mix with rain – so residents with freshly-washed cars might want to put them under cover, Mr Shabren said.
Videos posted to social media by locals caught out in the dust storms showed massive brown clouds descending on Dubbo and nearby towns on Sunday.
Spectacular dust storms pushed ahead of thunderstorms impacted much of western NSW on Sunday. Credit:Nick Moir
The clouds were so thick they temporarily blocked out the sun, turning the sky black as they passed through towns including Parkes, Narromine, Nyngan and Orange.
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 of Meteorology said.
A spectacular dust storm seen from west of Orange, NSW on Sunday. Credit:Nick Moir
Dust storms have become a regular feature in western NSW with the drought leaving dry, exposed soil ready to be picked up with the arrival of strong wind.
But drought-stricken towns had reasons to celebrate as Sunday's dust storm was accompanied by significant rain.
Bureau meteorologist Rose Barr said Sunday's rain was concentrated across central and northern parts of the state and east of the ranges.
Many towns on the Mid North Coast and the northern rivers region received between 100 and 180 millimetres between 9am to 10.30pm on Sunday.
Jenny Noyes is a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald. She was previously a writer and editor at Daily Life.
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