Once-in-a-decade dust haze engulfs the Coast
A RARE dust haze has engulfed the Sunshine Coast in proportions not seen for almost a decade.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Adam Woods said an overnight trough moved through the southern interior of the state, bringing with it strong, dusty winds.
BoM imaging shows the haze stretches from northern New South Wales, across Brisbane and up to the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Woods said the haze was an indication of how dry conditions were out west, and the last event of this magnitude was in 2009 over Brisbane.
"That was during El Nino, we are not currently in El Nino, but there have been rainfall deficiencies out west," Mr Woods said.
"Dry conditions, less plant materials to bind that soil together, get windy conditions with this trough and you get this in the atmosphere."
#Dust, kicked up by a strong trough that moved through western #Queensland yesterday, has made it all the way to #SEQld this morning. #Brisbane is looking murky at the moment but it should gradually improve through the day. Check the satellite imagery at https://t.co/3txT4guH5T pic.twitter.com/lMlKy0frEx
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) August 31, 2018
Mr Woods said windy conditions were forecast throughout the day, but the "dust would settle" and should clear by the evening.
The dust has reduced visibility in affected areas.
