This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A dramatic dust storm could hit Sydney and Canberra on Thursday afternoon as high winds blow through drought-stricken New South Wales.

Parts of western NSW – including Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Broken Hill – have already weathered the dust storms this week, and a widespread cold front is threatening to spread it as far as the coast.

Anita Pyne, a forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, said the storm would definitely affect western regional centres, and could make it as far as Sydney.

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“The winds are strong and the conditions are favourable so we can’t rule it out,” she said. “But it might not happen. We might see a little pinkish glow in the sky, it might be an annoying haze, or it could be a full-on dust storm.”

Sydneysiders will be bracing for a repeat of the 2009 dust storm, which turned skies orange, grounded flights and shrouded landmarks like the Opera House in a deep red haze.

Pyne said this week’s dust storm would more likely arrive in the afternoon than the morning.

“We’re going to just keep watching the dust cloud on the satellite imagery,” she said. “The winds are definitely ramping up into tomorrow afternoon and will be more likely as tomorrow progresses.”

The dust event is due to the ongoing drought across central Australia combined with gale force winds, she said.

“Western NSW and SA have been in such bad drought conditions that the soil is super dry – in some places as dry as it can get. And with less vegetation due to the drought, there is also more exposed soil. It doesn’t take as much.

“There is a cold front beginning to push in and bringing with it strong winds. For tomorrow we are forecasting strong to gale force winds in parts of western NSW and, if it lifts dust higher up into the atmosphere, as this system tracks east, it will bring the dust with it.”

She said Canberra was more likely to experience a dust storm than Sydney, as the capital had already experienced dust events this year.

People with respiratory issues are advised to stay indoors and avoid vigorous exercise. The bureau has also issued a fire warning in NSW due to the strong, dry winds.

The NSW health department also has a guide to dust storms available on its website.

Infants, children, the elderly and those with heart disease and diabetes are vulnerable to the effects of a dust storm. People are advised to avoid outdoor activity, cover your nose and mouth with a mask or damp cloth and be aware of reduced visibility when driving.