Apocalyptic scenes as Mildura turns orange during dust storm

Apocalyptic scenes in country Victoria as entire city turns orange from incredible dust storm
Mildura, Victoria, has been covered by a thick orange dust storm on Thursday
The cloud cover is due to the hot temperatures and intense wind conditions
A code red fire warning is in place across the state due to bushfires
By CLAUDIA POPOSKI FOR ❶World News
AUSTRALIA and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
A small town in country Victoria has turned orange as a powerful dust storm sweeps through the region.

High winds in Mildura, in the state's northwest, caused the dust storm on Thursday as the temperature soared to 40C.
A code red fire warning is in place across the state, meaning residents have to be ready for the worst bushfire conditions.

The Victorian country town of Mildura was covered by the cloud early on Thursday morning due to the northerly winds

High winds in Mildura, in the state's northwest, caused the dust storm on Thursday as the temperature soared to 40C

'The sky is literally brown, the dust in the air is just so thick. The sky is now deep orange. And the wind is harsh,' a resident, who wanted to be known only as Leonie, told AAP.

'It is just atrocious. This dust, we have had it so often and it is becoming a norm for us.'

The mother, who works at a newsagency, said the store was 'full of dust' and she was having some trouble breathing because she has asthma.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the visibility had dropped to three kilometres for most of the northwestern part of the state.

'The wind change has made it much worse and visibility has dropped to about 500 metres to a kilometre. Since then conditions have not improved a great deal,' the forecaster said.

It is strikingly similar those which led to one of the worst dust storms in Australia's history nearly a decade ago.

'The sky is literally brown, the dust in the air is just so thick. The sky is now deep orange. And the wind is harsh,' a resident, who wanted to be known only as Leonie, told AAP

A code red fire warning is in place across the state, meaning residents have to be ready for the worst bushfire conditions

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the visibility had dropped to three kilometres for most of the north-western part of the state

The Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge were barely visible and flights in and out of the city were cancelled.

The forecaster said a cool change was coming in Mildura - with temperatures dropping to 30C in the far north.

The highest recorded temperature for Mildura on Thursday was 40.6C.

The forecaster said a cool change is coming - with temperatures dropping to 30°C in the far north. The highest recorded temperature for Mildura on Thursday was 40.6°C

There is a severe thunderstorm and damaging winds warning with storms already seen between Melbourne and Swan Hill

There is a severe thunderstorm and damaging winds warning with storms already seen between Melbourne and Swan Hill.

Two out-of-control bushfires are threatening homes in a series of small Victorian communities, with residents told it is too late to leave.

An emergency warning has been issued for Clunes and nearby areas north of Ballarat due to a grassfire heading south towards Dunac.

Two out-of-control bushfires are threatening homes in a series of small Victorian communities, with residents told it is too late to leave

Another emergency warning has been issued for Bonn and Strathallan, south of Echuca, which is in the area declared code red.

'You are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately,' the warnings say.

'Do not get in the car and drive. It is safer to stay where you are.'

The Bonn fire could threaten the town of Rochester, but it is currently heading east of the township.

It is strikingly similar to those which led to one of the worst dust storms in Australia's history nearly a decade ago. Pictured: Sydney dust storm in 2009
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