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• The Guardian
• Tue May 27 2025

Parts of Sydney faced ?extremely poor? air quality warnings on Tuesday morning as a dust storm swept eastwards from inland Australia.

Sydney?s north-west and central west including Parramatta had the heaviest air pollution, with very poor air quality also observed across Sydney stretching as far south as Goulburn and as far north as Muswellbrook, according to official pollution monitoring stations.

Tegan Clarke, studying a PhD at Australian National University, said the drought in South Australia had created the conditions to form the dust storm.

Winds from a cold front had blown dust over parts of Victoria and NSW, she said.

?If drought conditions continue, we can expect to see more local dust emissions out of South Australia.?

The dust storm hit the town of Orroroo in SA on Monday, blocking out the sky in an orange haze.

It also blanketed areas of regional Victoria on Monday afternoon, including Mildura in the state?s north-west.

Dust also swept through Melbourne, Canberra and surrounding regions early Tuesday morning.

View image in fullscreen Dust is seen in the air around Mildura, Victoria on Monday 26 May. Photograph: Lisa Cooper

Dr Christine Cowie, an environmental epidemiologist at UNSW, said infants, young children and the elderly were susceptible to the effects of air pollution from dust storms. Anyone with a breathing condition was also at risk.

?They may feel like they can?t get enough oxygen,? she said.

The government warned there were high levels of PM10 particles, a common feature of bushfire smoke or dust storms. PM10 particles are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs.

Even those without particular sensitivities were advised to avoid outdoor physical activity if they develop symptoms such as coughing or a shortness of breath, and when indoors, to close windows and doors.

Face masks would also help, Cowie said.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, a NSW Health spokesperson advised air quality was expected to improve throughout the day, with risk to health likely to be low, but said those who may be affected should take the necessary precautions.

?Air quality is currently poor to very poor in the following areas: East Sydney; Central, South and North-West Sydney; Upper Hunter; Central and Southern Tablelands; the Illawarra; Riverina and South Coast,? they said.

Anyone concerned about symptoms should call the 24-hour HealthDirect helpline on 1800 022 222, or see their doctor. In a health emergency call triple zero.

Updated information can be found on the NSW government air quality website.