Overview
- Parts of Western Australia saw deep red daylight on Friday, March 27, after Narelle’s winds lifted dust that cut visibility to near zero in Shark Bay, Denham, and across the Gascoyne and Pilbara.
- Meteorologists said Mie scattering from large dust grains let longer red light dominate, and the Bureau of Meteorology noted thick cloud muted direct sunlight to intensify the hue.
- Videos drew global attention and some viewers questioned filters, yet residents and forecasters posted “no filter” clips while emergency services urged people, especially those with asthma, to stay indoors.
- The rare triple‑strike cyclone crossed Queensland and the Northern Territory before hitting Western Australia with Category 4 strength, tearing roofs in Exmouth and damaging farms, then weakening to a subtropical system on March 28.
- Cleanup is underway with Western Australia announcing one‑off relief payments up to $4,000 for destroyed homes, and reports note disrupted output at Chevron and Woodside LNG plants as damage tallies continue.