A vast dust storm moving across Australia has shrouded Sydney in a dense haze, sparking health alerts and underscoring the growing impact of climate extremes nationwide. New South Wales Health department today issued alerts for very poor air quality in some areas. Earlier in the day, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed expanded financial assistance for regions affected by flooding on the east coast. Authorities have confirmed that almost 800 homes and businesses have been destroyed due to flood caused by record-breaking rainfall.
New South Wales (NSW) Health on Tuesday issued alerts for very poor air quality in some areas, as the haze, driven by drought and strong winds in South Australia, settles over NSW.
Experts said the event is a stark reminder of Australia’s vulnerability to shifting weather patterns and land degradation.
According to Milton Speer, visiting fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, long-term atmospheric changes are contributing to both droughts in southern Australia and heavy rains along the east coast, Xinhua news agency reported.
Paul Beggs from Macquarie University said this kind of extreme event reflects long-term climate trends. Research shows that from 2014 to 2023, much of Australia experienced more severe droughts than in the 1950s, which has had significant effects on both physical and mental health.
John Grant, a soils expert at Southern Cross University, warned of the long-term damage. The dust storm originated in drought-hit areas of western Victoria and South Australia, where dry, bare soils are vulnerable to erosion.
Wind erosion strips away the most fertile part of the soil. This not only reduces productivity but also makes the land more likely to erode again, Grant said.