Residents of western Australia were preparing for a tropical cyclone but to 
their dismay they were enufed by an enormous wall of dust and those who succeeded in capturing these pictures were speechless while working on tugboat works and aeroplane passengers near the town of Onslow in north-western Australia.
Local reports say the huge swathes of red sand and dust had been picked
up by strong winds in the Indian Ocean before being dropped near the town. The tsunami-like wave of sand could be seen travelling for miles and dwarfed ships out at sea. Tugboat worker Brett Martin, who shot some of the pictures, said before the storm hit conditions were calm and glassy.
But when the dust arrived visibility was reduced to just 100 metres and the swell rose to two metres. It is the latest incident in weeks of dramatic weather in the country that has been besieged by terrible bush fires after unprecedented high temperatures and strong winds ravaged much of the south east.
But now residents in north-western Australia are preparing themselves
for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Bureau of Meterology manager of climate services Glenn Cook told The Australian the dust storm was not directly related to the cyclone - the centre of which is still hundreds of kilometres away.
Wind gusts in Onslow reached 63mph and the dust storm was made worse by the lack of rain in the region. Climate information officer John Relf told The Australian: 'If it's pretty dry in land, boom, there you go. It was the right recipe.' He said dust storms were rare and may only happen once or twice a year, if at all.
The dramatic weather is set to continue as the category-three cyclone heads to north-western Australia. Local forecasters warned of 60mph gales and gusts of more than 80mph and oil and mining operations are preparing to close when the cyclone lands.
Car giant Chevron is also set to evacuate workers from Barrow Island - about 30 miles off the coast.
their dismay they were enufed by an enormous wall of dust and those who succeeded in capturing these pictures were speechless while working on tugboat works and aeroplane passengers near the town of Onslow in north-western Australia.
Local reports say the huge swathes of red sand and dust had been picked
up by strong winds in the Indian Ocean before being dropped near the town. The tsunami-like wave of sand could be seen travelling for miles and dwarfed ships out at sea. Tugboat worker Brett Martin, who shot some of the pictures, said before the storm hit conditions were calm and glassy.
But when the dust arrived visibility was reduced to just 100 metres and the swell rose to two metres. It is the latest incident in weeks of dramatic weather in the country that has been besieged by terrible bush fires after unprecedented high temperatures and strong winds ravaged much of the south east.
But now residents in north-western Australia are preparing themselves
for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Bureau of Meterology manager of climate services Glenn Cook told The Australian the dust storm was not directly related to the cyclone - the centre of which is still hundreds of kilometres away.
Wind gusts in Onslow reached 63mph and the dust storm was made worse by the lack of rain in the region. Climate information officer John Relf told The Australian: 'If it's pretty dry in land, boom, there you go. It was the right recipe.' He said dust storms were rare and may only happen once or twice a year, if at all.
The dramatic weather is set to continue as the category-three cyclone heads to north-western Australia. Local forecasters warned of 60mph gales and gusts of more than 80mph and oil and mining operations are preparing to close when the cyclone lands.
Car giant Chevron is also set to evacuate workers from Barrow Island - about 30 miles off the coast.
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