Footage shows dust storm hitting parts of South Australia
Footage from Orroroo and just outside of Loxton shows the severity of the dust storm that hit South Australia on Monday. The Bureau of Meteorology said dry conditions and strong winds caused the large dust clouds to form, leading to poor visibility and bad driving conditions, which prompted some road closures
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Stunning photos capture the rare moment water cascades down the sides of Uluru as mega rain bomb strikes Australia
Stunning footage has captured the moment Uluru became a waterfall after rain produced cascades down Australia's sacred rock. The sides of the iconic rock were temporarily transformed into a stunning water feature as the typically harsh desert sun vanished behind a rain band, part of a cloud system stretching the entire length of Australia. The Outback has already seen massive flooding this year with temporary inland seas isolating townships from the rest of the country. Satellite images show the new cloud band stretching 3,600km from WA's Kimberley region, across central Australia and to the Queensland and NSW border. The weather system has already dumped record-breaking rainfall over some WA and NT regions with more than 100mm falling in areas that usually see less than 20mm throughout May. In the NT, records were also broken with Tindal receiving 179.8mm - the average May daily rainfall is 2mm - and Rabbit Flat 77.6mm. Alice Springs was also soaked with 40.4mm, which is the heaviest May rainfall daily total since 1993. Broome this week received 100.6mm of rain in 24 hours - the heaviest May daily rainfall in 20 years - while nearby Kalumburu was drenched with 111.6mm and Wyndham with 54.8mm, which were both new May records. NSW is still reeling from devastating floods that hit coastal communities last week, with the latest downpours fortunately focused on Queensland, the NT and WA. 'Cloudy, cool and wet describes the weather for a lot of areas along the east coast (on Friday),' the BOM's Angus Hines told News. Recent heavy rain has turned Uluru's rock formations into cascading waterfalls Mutitjulu waterhole at Uluru turned into a picturesque waterfall on Sunday after a drenching at Australia's typically arid red centre 'Most of the rain will be between Bundaberg and Townsville, we could actually see some moderate falls around the likes of Mackay and Rockhampton, and it will be pretty wet there through most of the day. He said the West Coast is also expected to see some wet weather, with storms south of Geraldton. 'When it comes to rain though, there is something a bit more significant to talk about here, and this is bands of showers and storms moving onto the west coast,' Mr Hines said. '(It) really could affect anyone from the Pilbara, right down through the central west, through Perth and down to the very far south west.' An image showing accumulated rainfall from Wednesday to Friday across Australia Sydney Friday: Min 11 Max 20 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent. Saturday: Min 12 Max 20 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent. Sunday: Min 10 Max 20 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Brisbane Friday: Min 15 Max 21 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 6 mm. Chance of any rain: 70 per cent. Saturday: Min 15 Max 22 Rain. Possible rainfall: 1 to 15 mm. Chance of any rain: 80 per cent. Sunday: Min 15 Max 24 Possible shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent. Locals in Port Macquarie are seen delivering food to isolated residents last week Australia's red centre has already seen flooding this year with more expected ( Thargomindah in outback Queensland is pictured in March) Melbourne Friday: Min 10 Max 16 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 50 per cent. Saturday: Min 9 Max 16 Cloudy. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 30 per cent. Sunday: Min 6 Max 17 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Adelaide Friday: Min 9 Max 18 Cloud clearing. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Saturday: Min 6 Max 19 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Sunday: Min 8 Max 20 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Perth Friday: Min 13 Max 23 Showers. Storm. Possible rainfall: 6 to 20 mm. Chance of any rain: 95 per cent. Saturday: Min 14 Max 22 Showers. Possible rainfall: 2 to 9 mm. Chance of any rain: 90 per cent. Sunday: Min 12 Max 22 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 2 mm. Chance of any rain: 50 per cent. A cloud band stretching the length of Australia (pictured) is dumping record-breaking rain in areas which usually only receive 2mm in a month NSW is still reeling from floods which smashed costal communities last week Canberra Friday: Min -1 Max 18 Morning frost. Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Saturday: Min 2 Max 17 Cloud clearing. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Sunday: Min 0 Max 17 Morning frost. Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Hobart Friday: Min 8 Max 15 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Saturday: Min 7 Max 15 Cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent. Sunday: Min 6 Max 16 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent. Darwin Friday: Min 22 Max 31 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. Saturday: Min 22 Max 31 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. Sunday: Min 22 Max 31 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
The major threat in Australia that no one can prepare for - as an urgent wake up call issued
Once again, large parts of New South Wales have been devastated by floods. It's estimated 10,000 homes and businesses may have been damaged or destroyed and the Insurance Council of Australia reports more than 6,000 insurance claims have been received for the Mid North Coast and Hunter region. Hundreds of families are displaced. With many homes now uninhabitable, they face a uncertain future. As the mop-up begins, stories are emerging of households and businesses not covered by insurance, with some residents saying insurance companies were asking up to A$30,000 annually for cover. There are many others who are underinsured, with insurance payouts not meeting the full costs of rebuild, repair and replacement. The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the event an 'insurance catastrophe'. The impacts of these floods reflect global trends. In 2024, there were around 60 natural disaster events that each exceeded A$1.5 billion in economic losses. Total losses worldwide reached A$650 billion. As one of the most disaster-prone countries in the Western world, is Australia the canary in the coalmine for a global collapse of insurance? With these types of disasters escalating in a changing climate, it is reasonable to feel – and fear – this is the case. An uninsurable future? In 1992, sociologist Ulrich Beck argued unpredictable global risks, such as climate change, would bring an end to the private insurance market, with profound effects on the modern world. The idea of an uninsurable future stirs up imaginings of apocalyptic landscapes – crumbling buildings, streets strewn with refuse and people eking out a living amid the rubble and ruins. But the reality is, as we are seeing in central NSW, it is not a future event that demands attention. Many individuals and communities are already living with an unfolding collapse of insurance affordability and availability. The consequences can be dire, especially for those already struggling to make ends meet. Speaking on ABC radio on Thursday morning, NSW Premier Chris Minns said he would be 'putting the heat' on insurance companies: In the lead-up to the federal election, both major parties made clear they believed insurers were 'ripping off' Australians. The Coalition even proposed new emergency divestiture powers that would allow the government to break up major insurers in the case of market failure. But this is no solution at all, given insurance pricing and coverage is largely set by global 'reinsurers'. Reinsurance is a kind of insurance coverage for insurance companies themselves – that is, policies to cover the cost of paying out claims after major disasters. Just ten multi-billion dollar companies control 70 per cent of the reinsurance market. Who should bear rising costs? Insurers, led by the Insurance Council of Australia, are pushing for a Flood Defence Fund and retrofitting homes for disaster resilience, paid for by governments and households. These ideas might seem logical. But they draw attention away from a thriving industry and regulations and policies aimed at making insurance more affordable and effective for ordinary people. In places like Australia, the increasing cost of insurance cuts across all types, with the largest rises coming in home, vehicle, and employers' liability insurance. Many insurers are reporting healthy profits. Globally, the sector is experiencing 'exceptionally strong growth'. Over the three years to 2024, revenue from premiums in the insurance sector increased by over 21 per cent globally – a 'whopping' rise, according to the finance corporation Allianz. Where to from here? The insurance sector will continue to grow – and profit – until it no longer can due to climate change and other pressures. But it is not a future crash of insurers that should be of primary concern. It is the real-time collapse of insurance for households, businesses and communities. As this collapse of insurance unfolds, it is largely left to households and communities to take action and build resilience. Examples include squatters taking possession of flood-damaged vacant homes in Lismore and, when combined with the housing crisis, the growth in informal housing and settlements on the fringes of major population centres. These are desperate responses. But they are also realistic, given governments and insurers are failing to reverse this trending collapse. What else we could do After each major disaster event comes a rise in insurance costs and a withdrawal of insurance coverage. To avoid being a canary in the coalmine, Australia urgently needs government intervention in the insurance industry - an industry very resistant to such intervention. To ensure everyone is adequately covered when disaster strikes, this could come in the form of an equitable and affordable public insurance scheme. As more Australians lose the ability to insure themselves, governments must also address growing structural inequality that is undermining social cohesion and our capacity for collective resilience. T Areas of Australia deemed insurable by 2030 The Climate Council has named the 10 areas across the nation most at risk of natural disasters including floods and bushfires, with five of them in Queensland. NICHOLLS, VICTORIA: 26.5 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Nationals electorate of Sam Birrell with 25,801 high risk properties) RICHMOND, NSW: 14.5 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Labor electorate of Assistant Minister Justine Elliot with 22,274 high-risk properties) MARANOA, QUEENSLAND: 13.9 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Nationals leader David Littleproud's electorate with 19,551 high-risk properties) MONCRIEFF, QUEENSLAND: 11.9 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Liberal electorate of Angie Bell with 18,032 high-risk properties) WRIGHT, QUEENSLAND: 9 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (bushfire in Liberal electorate of Scott Buchholz with 12,140 high-risk properties) BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND: 12.5 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Greens electorate of Stephen Bates with 19,355 high-risk properties) GRIFFITH, QUEENSLAND: 11.4 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Greens electorate of Max Chandler-Mather with 14,812 high-risk properties) INDI, VICTORIA: 10.7 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in independent electorate of Helen Haines with 11,215 high-risk properties ) PAGE, NEW SOUTH WALES: 5.4 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Nationals electorate of Kevin Hogan with 11,691 high-risk properties) HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 9.5 per cent of homes uninsurable by 2030 (flooding in Labor electorate of Health Minister Mark Butler with 10,775 high-risk properties)
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Hotter and wetter winter on the cards for Australia as SA and Victoria face unseasonal fire risk
Australia's winter will be warmer and wetter this year, with higher than average day and nighttime temperatures, and above-average rainfall likely in central and interior parts of the country. The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast said parts of the tropical north, south-east and south-west could expect typical winter rainfall, including coastal areas of New South Wales affected by May floods, and parts of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania where there have been prolonged dry conditions. Typical rainfall means a roughly equal chance of above, below or near-average rainfall. Areas of SA and Victoria where there has been record low rainfall also face unseasonal increased risk of fires this winter, according to Australia's fire and emergency services. The forecast follows a much wetter than average autumn for northern and eastern Australia, and a much drier one in the south. The BoM will release more detailed data in coming days but said Victoria had recorded its warmest autumn on record, NSW its second-warmest, and SA and Western Australia their third-warmest. A preliminary autumn summary said the season had been warmer than average generally, with daytime temperatures in the south and west 'very much above average'. The bureau said the above average temperatures would continue through winter, with warmer than usual minimum and maximums likely or very likely in every state and territory. 'We've pretty much got a very high chance of above average day and nighttime temperatures across the country,' senior climatologist Simon Grainger said. 'It's occurring against the background of a warmer climate globally but also we're seeing, across southern Australia in particular, persistent high pressure systems.' Grainger said those systems caused a buildup of warmer conditions and meant a decreased chance of cold fronts pushing into Australia, to bring colder air from further south. The Australian and New Zealand Council for fire and emergency services (AFAC) said the unseasonable bushfire risk potential for southern areas was driven in part by significant and persistent dry conditions. The council said there was an abundance of dry material in both grass and forest vegetation in Victoria, and southern scrub and forest areas of SA. But the council said drought conditions had reduced fire risk in pasture and crop landscapes. 'We don't normally think of winter and bushfire together in southern Australia. The prolonged drought conditions mean that communities across parts of Victoria and South Australia may see more activity than normal for this time of the year,' AFAC chief executive Rob Webb said. 'Fire authorities will monitor the landscape conditions and climate influences closely this season to manage bushfire risk and identify opportunities for mitigation activities such as planned burning.' AFAC said while long-term lack of rainfall had persisted in the south, tropical cyclone activity had continued beyond the typical end of the northern wet season, into May. The council said the higher than average pressure over the south that had contributed to the prolonged dry conditions there was consistent with longterm trends attributable to climate change. They said warmer than average sea surface temperatures were also persisting around much of the Australian coastline, leading to increased moisture and energy that could enhance the severity of storms and weather systems.
