Road Closures & Track Conditions - 11th March 2022

Australia

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-international-travellers

La Nina -

The Bureau of Meteorology announced the beginning of a La Niña on the 24th November 2021, which most likely means a wet summer period for eastern and northern regions. 

La Niña is a recurring event in our weather cycle, not to be confused with the warmer El Niño, that operates over periods of one to eight years. It manifests when strong equatorial trade winds change ocean currents, drawing cool water up to the surface in parts of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a pile up of warm surface water east of Australia. This leads to a boost in convection that has a pronounced effect on the global climate.

Every La Niña event is different, but according to the BOM this time Australia is likely to see:

• More rainfall in Eastern, Central, and Northern Australia

• Decreased daytime temperatures south of the tropics

• More tropical cyclones

• Increased chance of widespread flooding

• Longer, less intense heat waves in south east of Australia

• Earlier First Rains across Northern Australia

• Less risk of fires in areas that receive more rainfall

Northern Territory

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/quarantine

Regional Update -

• A trough lies across the Gregory and Carpentaria Districts, while a ridge will persist over southern districts. From Sunday, the trough will drift southwest over the Barkly District.

• ‘The Dry’ season has concluded, with La Niña conditions expected. The weather is looking wetter than average over the next couple of months. 

• Gibbie Creek 4WD Track - Road Closed - Between Fish Hole yard Wickham 4wd track and Gregory National park boundary. (Last updated: 10/03/22).

• Ex-Tropical Cyclone Tiffany has resulted in significant rainfall in the last few weeks. Some tracks in Northern NT are closed or impassable.
  
  

Western Australia

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa

Regional Update -

• Kimberley:

  • A trough extends from the Kimberley to the Pilbara coast.

  • Fire Risk:

    • North Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • West Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • Kimberley Inland: Low-Moderate

  • Hot temps (low 40s) expected.

  • Road Alert: Flooding alert - Gibb River Rd from Meda to Great Northern Hwy intersection. Road closed. No Detour Available.  (Updated: 03/03/22).

• Pilbara:

  • A trough extends from the Kimberley to the Pilbara coast.

  • Fire Risk:

    • East Pilbara Coast:  Low-Moderate

    • West Pilbara Coast: High

    • East Pilbara Inland: Low-Moderate

    • Ashburton Inland: Low-Moderate

    • Exmouth Gulf Coast: Very High

  • Mostly sunny throughout the week, temps into mid to low 40s.

  • Road Alert: Flooding alert - Ripon Hills Rd between Marble Bar turnoff and Telfer turnoff, Marble Bar - Flooding - Road closed.

• South West WA:

  • A ridge of high pressure lies to the south of the State and will weaken on the weekend. A trough persists near the west coast and will deepen on Friday before moving inland on Saturday. A new ridge will follow in the wake of the trough.

  • Fire Risk:

    • Geographe: Very High

    • Leeuwin: High

    • Nelson: Very High

  • Mostly sunny throughout the rest of the week. Temps into the min 30s.

  • Quite extensive road works are being undertaken on the South Coast Highway over Jan and Feb.

South Australia

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/travel-restrictions

La Niña -

More rainfall during spring and summer, wetter soils and an increased chance of flash floods. Reduced bushfire risk with reduced extreme heat waves. More rainfall expected in the north/central areas of South Australia.

Regional Update -

• A high pressure system south of the Bight will remain near stationary for the remainder of the week, before moving eastwards over the weekend.

• Rain Closure openings: Large amounts of outback SA roads have reopened after poor weather. Some remain closed and other transit routes have restrictions  (updated: 10/03/22).

• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Lengthy closure still in place, Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 10/03/22).

• Road Works: Road Sealing - Strzelecki Track (472km). The SA government will seal the first 50-kilometres, Starting just north of Lyndhurst.

Victoria

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19

La Niña -

More rainfall during spring and summer, wetter soils and an increased chance of flash floods. Reduced bushfire risk with reduced extreme heat waves.

Regional Update - 

• A low pressure system off the south coast of NSW will continue moving away into the Tasman Sea today, while a high approaches from the west. The high will move slowly across Victoria on Friday, and into the southern Tasman Sea during the weekend. A weak low pressure trough is expected to develop over northern Victoria on Sunday.

• Haunted Stream Track: Haunted Stream Track - Tambo Crossing is closed. DELWP are undertaking repairs. Reopening will be dependent on weather conditions.

• High Country: Seasonally Closed tracks have reopened, Check the list of tracks open/closed.

Tasmania

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania

La Niña -

More rainfall during spring and summer, wetter soils and an increased chance of flash floods. Reduced bushfire risk with reduced extreme heat waves.

Regional Update -

• A high south of the Bight extends a ridge over the south of Tasmania, while a low in the Tasman Sea continues to move away to the east. The high will linger on Friday as another high center forms to the northeast, with a trough extending over the state. The high to the east will become more dominant on Saturday and Sunday.
   

New South Wales/ ACT

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/border-restrictions

La Niña -

More rainfall during spring and summer, wetter soils and an increased chance of flash floods. Reduced bushfire risk with reduced extreme heat waves. More rainfall is expected in most of New South Wales.

Regional Update - 

• A low pressure system continues to move away to the southeast with coastal winds easing. During Thursday, a strengthening ridge of high pressure will form along the coast and a weak trough will develop over the inland, with this pattern persisting into the weekend.

• STATE FLOODING - Adverse weather conditions through Sydney, North East of NSW. There are major road closures continuing due to heavy rains/floods.

• HAZARD Road damage: Tibooburra to Toona Gate - Toona Gate Rd - Exercise caution - The road is open with caution to 4 wheel drives only. - Traffic affected in both directions. (Updated: 10/03/22).

Queensland

Border Update -

For more information refer to: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/border-restrictions

La Niña -

More tropical Cyclones than normal. Prepare earlier - Rain expected a month earlier, more than 70% chance of above-average rainfall and increased flood risk.

Regional Update -

• A trough extends across western and central Queensland and into the southern interior. The trough will drift slowly west over the next few days, reaching southwest Queensland by the weekend. A high moving east across the Great Australian Bight will extend a ridge and southeasterly wind change over southeast Queensland this evening, with the ridge and southeasterly wind change pushing north along the east coast over the next few days. The high will reach the Tasman Sea by the weekend, maintaining a firm ridge along the east coast.

• Cape York: Peninsula Developmental Road - Road Works - at Archer River Road.

• Fraser Island:

  • Areas of concern -Most of the West coast is closed to beach driving.

  • Vehicles are prohibited on the beach between South Ngkala Rocks and Sandy Cape Lighthouse between 6pm to 6am, from 15 Nov 21 to 31 Mar 2022.

  • Look and listen for aircraft landing and taking off along the eastern beach. Follow direction from the ground control crew.

  • Fraser Island report - 3rd Mar, 2022.

• Flooding Alerts QLD:  A Flood Watch and multiple Flood Warnings are current across Queensland and priority warnings are in place for parts of Southeast Queensland.