Overview
- Tropical Cyclone Narelle swept Western Australia as a Category 3 system, turning daylight red in towns including Exmouth, Denham and Shark Bay.
- Wind gusts near or above 190 to 200 km/h damaged homes and service stations, cut power and communications, and affected Learmonth Airport.
- Residents reported near-zero visibility and trouble breathing as a dense dust cloud blotted out the sun, with viral images likened to apocalyptic scenes.
- Meteorologists explain that fine dust rich in iron oxide, suspended in humid, cloudy air, scattered blue light and left red and orange wavelengths to dominate.
- With the storm now past, emergency crews are working on cleanup and restoration, and Chevron reported interruptions at its Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities.