When you think of Australia’s wild weather, you might think of cyclones in the north or bushfires in the summer.
But for one Australian town, a different force of nature recently turned the sky a haunting shade of orange: a severe dust storm that left residents stunned and scrambling for cover.
South Australians have been left reeling after a wild weather system swept across the state, bringing a dramatic mix of dust storms, destructive winds, and lashing rain.
For many, it was a day that started with a typical winter chill and ended with scenes straight out of a disaster movie—roads swallowed by dust, power flickering out, and the coastline battered by surging tides.
The chaos began as fierce winds whipped along the coast, sending massive tidal surges crashing over the esplanades at Brighton and Glenelg.
Commuters found themselves caught off guard as waves leapt onto the roads, forcing the closure of several jetties and causing traffic headaches.
Meanwhile, hail and heavy rain pelted down in Victor Harbor and other southern towns, adding to the mayhem.
But the coast wasn’t the only one feeling the brunt. Inland, the winds turned the sky a menacing ochre as dust storms swept through rural areas, including the Sturt Highway.
Visibility plummeted, prompting police to close roads and issue urgent warnings: ‘Ensure your headlights are on and drive to the conditions. Pull to the side of the road if it is unsafe to continue, activate your hazard lights and wait for the storm to pass.’
For residents in the township of Peterborough, the dust storm was surreal and unsettling.
‘You couldn’t see the clubrooms at all. It was all just a metre in front of you, and you could just taste it. It was really horrible,’ said local Janet Fielding, describing the choking, blinding conditions.
Farmers, already struggling with dry conditions, found little comfort in the storm.
‘We are desperate for rain, but we didn’t need a storm like this,’ lamented Rob Brokenshire from the Dairy Farmers Association.
The wild weather brought down trees weakened by months of drought, further complicating recovery efforts for communities still grappling with recent floods.
The destructive winds didn’t just make for dramatic skies—they also left thousands in the dark. Power lines were ripped down in Grange, plunging suburbs and even the Westfield Marion shopping centre into darkness.
The State Emergency Service was inundated, responding to more than 200 calls for help since midnight, from fallen trees to damaged roofs and blocked roads.
This wasn’t just a South Australian event. The Bureau of Meteorology had warned that the ‘most powerful cold front of the year’ was moving across Australia’s south-east, with wind gusts of up to 125km/h forecast for South Australia, Victoria, the New South Wales (NSW) Snowy Mountains, and parts of the Australian Capital Territory.
The cold front brought damaging winds and the risk of further showers and flooding, particularly in already flood-hit areas of NSW.
The Bureau also highlighted a hidden danger: after months of dry weather, trees across the region are ‘weak,’ making them especially vulnerable to being brought down by strong winds—a risk that played out in real time as emergency crews scrambled to clear debris.
One resident captured the moment on video, showing her home and the surrounding landscape blanketed in thick, swirling orange dust.
‘You can’t see a thing out,’ she said, her voice echoing the disbelief felt across the community.
Dust storms can pose serious health risks. The fine particles can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and exacerbate respiratory problems.
Here are some tips to stay safe if a dust storm hits your area:
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
- Use air purifiers or air conditioning if possible.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
- If you must go outside, wear a mask or a damp cloth over your nose and mouth.
- Keep medications handy if you have asthma or other respiratory issues.
Have you lived through a dust storm, or do you have tips for coping when the sky turns orange? Share your stories and advice in the comments below—your experience could help others prepare for whatever Mother Nature throws our way next.
Also read: Emergency services warn of the ‘perfect storm’ to hit NSW this weekend
