As other parts of Queensland received welcome rain, residents of south western towns, Charleville, Wyandra and Toompine endured a dust storm and howling winds on Tuesday.
According to Alan MacDonald, a howling easterly started at about 12.05pm, blowing at 30 to 40 knots, and hadn’t let up a lot over two hours later.
He said visibility was down to 100 metres at the start of the storm but had improved a little since then.
He also said that it appeared unlikely the event would bring rain with it as the skies were clear apart from the dust.
The only positive was “an incredible drop in temperature”.
“It’s coming off our very dry mulga lands,” Alan said.
“The Met Bureau recorded a gust of 85 kilometres per hour in the initial stages.
“It’s nothing like the storms you see out in the desert but it’s not pleasant all the same.”
Charleville resident, Tegan Russell posted a video of the choking dust on her Facebook page, saying the town had received no rain out of the storm.
The storm has uprooted trees throughout Charleville and brought down at least one power pole.
Alan’s air charter business is based at the airport and he said Rex and Qantas flights due in looked to have been delayed.
He said the town had received very little rain so far this year, just 5 to 10mm events.
“We might as well not have had anything.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
