A massive dust storm has swept through the south-western Queensland town of Charleville turning the streets into an apocalyptic sea of orange.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the event was caused by severe thunderstorms and recent dry, hot weather. Winds were recorded close to 100km/h in the area, while temperatures tipped the high 30s.
Paige Donald, a 21-year-old roo shooter from Charleville, told the ABC that the conditions were scary.
“We heard thunder, so we went outside to make sure the dogs were okay and bring everything inside, and we turned around and there was this big red dust storm coming along — it was pretty thick,” she said. “Our eyes are covered in dust … it’s a big orange cloud. It’s pretty scary actually — it’s just like movies.”
Inspector Grant Marcus said the town was damaged, with parts of roofs ripped off, signs torn down and wheelie bins about the street.
“So far I haven’t spoken to anyone who’s seen anything as unusual or significant as this in the way of dust storms,” he said. “It’s not unusual to get them out here, you do get them occasionally but it’s quite a significant one.”
In 1992 we were parked in the caravan park in the centre of Coober Pedy and a dust storm was so severe we thought of unplugging and facing into the storm the van was rocking so badly. I experienced plenty of dust storms in the wheat belt of WA as a kid but this was a pearler