Orange haze blankets Sydney, NSW shrouded by dust

[warp33]

Waking up this morning, I noticed something very strange about outside. Everything was ORANGE.

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6968381,00.jpg

 

After searching the web for a few minutes, I found some stories on news.com.au about the odd situation. Apparently, the orange in the sky is dust coming from the deserts west of here. I will copy the article here, but if you want to read it, you can go here. The article said:

 

"RESIDENTS of Sydney and parts of New South Wales have awoken to scenes likened to "armageddon", with limited visibility and orange skies.

 

Large areas have been shrouded in dust as the state experiences severe winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.

 

Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman Jane Golding said dust had settled on much of the state, including Sydney.

 

"It's pretty widespread," she told ABC Radio.

 

"We've had reports of low visibility up out as far up as Moree, Dubbo, Canberra's got some raised dust in the area and Wollongong, so it's very widespread."

 

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6968158,00.jpg

 

Fire services were kept busy all morning as fire alarms were activated around the city.

 

One Sydney resident said on Twitter: "Fire alarm in apartment won't shut up. Argh! I slept through it too. Sky is red also. Slightly freaking me out. Back to bed."

 

Other Twitter posts included:

 

Tors: Is it the end of the world? Sydney sky is red like in a Stephen King novel.

 

Dawn: gale, creepy red fog, sound of sirens. WTF? Expecting Martian war machine to lurch into view any minute.

 

Sydneysiders with allergies and respiratory problems are being asked to stay inside.

 

Meanwhile, at least four Sydney-bound flights have been diverted to Brisbane and long delays are expected at Sydney Airport.

 

Wild winds are lashing the Hunter region and gale force winds of up to 100km/h are expected to hit Sydney today.

 

The weather bureau has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds in Sydney with a gale warning issued for Sydney closed waters.

 

"Strong to gale force west to northwest winds, gradually easing late afternoon and evening," the Bureau says.

 

The State Emergency Services said it had received 175 requests for assistance across the state after storms last night.

 

Hail stones reportedly as big as cricket balls hit the town of Crookwell near Goulburn, damaging windows and tiles.

 

Elsewhere, Victoria experienced two small earthquakes last night, but there were no reports of damage.

 

The earthquakes rattled Melbourne's south about 14 seconds apart and hit the Mornington Peninsula region at about 6.20pm (AEST) yesterday, Geoscience Australia seismologist David Jepson said.

 

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6968021,00.jpg

 

The quakes recorded magnitudes of 3.0 and 2.6 about 20km south of Frankston.

 

Parts of the state also received heavy rainfalls yesterday, triggering flash flood warnings.

 

More shower activity is expected today and a gale wind warning for coastal waters has been issued.

 

And authorities have warned Queensland residents to prepare their bushfire plans.

 

Total fire bans remain in place over much of Queensland as unseasonal spring weather continues.

 

Hot dry conditions yesterday sparked a dozen grass fires and bushfires from Townsville in the north to the southeast corner.

 

 

Well, thankfully it is just a dust storm, and not armageddon, and we definately didn't teleport to Mars, so I suppose we're all safe. Except for the people with asthma and/or breathing difficulties. Like me. Ah well, a day of sitting on the computer isn't so bad.

 

But then again.. i'll keep the doors locked, just in case the Enclave come knocking.

 

-warp

[TheCalliton]

I AM SO MOVING TO SYDNEY

 

ARMAGGEDON TIME woot

i could pretend to be in the fallout world haha

[warp33]

Hah, it was definately a creepy sight waking up to what looked like the post-apocalyptic capitol wasteland.

[Thor.]

COOOL and interesting :thumbsup:

[Nexus Set]

Saw this on the news... it looks like straight out of Fallout! :blink:

 

Seriously, I hope everything is in order over there.

[warp33]

It is, it's just some screwed up wind pattern bringing the dust from the droughts over here.. The air is clear, but everything else is orange.

[Povuholo]

Dagoth Ur is back, spreading the blight! :devil:

[jaosals42]

and we definately didn't teleport to Mars, so I suppose we're all safe.

 

Ya sure the Mars didn't get transported to you? :whistling:

 

Looks pretty creepy tbh. I think I'd use that sort of weather as an excuse to have a day off of school(insert innocent smiley here)... If it ever happened locally...

[species5478]

Here in America,(during the 50's I think) when our government first starting experimenting with nuclear bombs, the sky had a similar look in some areas. Hundreds of test were done, and nukes were detonated everywhere; places like Nevada, off the coast of Hawaii, underground, and even in the upper-atmosphere. "Quakes", usually followed these tests so...are you sure they weren't experimenting with nuke over there? (How ya feeling by the way? Any extra fingers?)

[warp33]

haha, no casualties, or injuries actually. It's just dust. Nothing to worry about. EXCEPT FOR MY DAMNED CAR THAT I WASHED THE DAY BEFORE.. it's now orange.