Intense, hazardous dust storms blanket South Australia

Intense, warm winds generated dust storms that have swept across South Australia on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. A health alert has been issued for the state and people with breathing problems were advised to stay indoors.

Dust began to set Monday, May 24, due to intense winds. The storm continued into Tuesday, impacting the morning commute of motorists. 

Authorities advised people with breathing issues and asthma to stay at home and seek medical advice if their condition worsens.

According to 9News, the strong winds came in either side of a cold front, which is extending into South Australia and the Northern Territory's lower end on the tail of a low, which has moved in from the Bight overnight.

Hazardous surf conditions may also take place, forecast to hit Queensland's southeast coastline.

Felim Hanniffy, a senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, said the significant swell will smash later Tuesday, and eventually move further southeast.

"It's due to quite an intense low-pressure system that developed and remains slow moving off the north island of New Zealand."

Hanniffy continued, "It looks like the most powerful part of the swell will be Tuesday but still quite a strong swell on Wednesday (May 26)."

"The swell does ease back a touch but it will still remain elevated through the mid-week period and there's a potential for that swell to increase back up to hazardous levels later in the week as you go towards Friday, May 28 and the weekend."

The low coming in over the Bight is forecast to bring in a trough, causing some showers and storms for southern areas of the Northern Territory and cooler temperatures across Western Australia and Victoria.

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