Road Closures & Track Conditions 13th May 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 ridge of high pressure will weaken across the NT this week, resulting in lighter winds and increased humidity across the Top End and warmer temperatures across southern NT. A cool change and weak cloud band will develop across southern NT during the weekend, resulting in a return to cooler temperatures.

• ‘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: 12/05/22).

• Flooding has resulted due to 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 drier easterly flow will persist until later today. A trough is expected to move over the Pilbara from the Gascoyne on Friday and extend to the Kimberley by the weekend.

  • Fire Risk:

    • North Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • West Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • Kimberley Inland: Low-Moderate

  • Hot temps (Low to Mid 30s) expected.

  • Road Alert- Event: The Gibb Challenge is on from the 15th May -19th May 2022. Gibb River Rd - Derby to El Questro - Slow Down - Exercise caution when approaching & passing cyclists & support vehicles. Visit https://thegibbchallenge.com.au/  (Updated: 12/05/22).

• Pilbara:

  • A drier easterly flow will persist until later today. A trough is expected to move over the Pilbara from the Gascoyne on Friday and extend to the Kimberley by the weekend.

  • Fire Risk:

    • East Pilbara Coast: High

    • West Pilbara Coast: High

    • East Pilbara Inland: High

    • Ashburton Inland: High

    • Exmouth Gulf Coast: Low-Moderate

  • Mostly sunny throughout the week, temps into mid 30s.

  • Marble Bar Road - 66 km south of Great Northern Highway (Port Hedland end) Marble Bar - Intersection construction. (Updated: 12/05/22).
    
    

• South West WA:

  • A shallow trough over inland agricultural areas is moving east as a ridge over the southeast of the State weakens. A thickening cloud band and a cold front will sweep across southern and western parts of the State today and Friday. A ridge of high pressure will follow in the wake of the front on Friday across the South West Land Division. Another weak front will brush past the southwest coast on Saturday.

  • Fire Risk:

    • Geographe: Low-Moderate

    • Leeuwin: Low-Moderate

    • Nelson: Low-Moderate

  • Mostly sunny throughout the rest of the week. Temps into the high teens.

  • Quite extensive road works are being undertaken on the South Coast Highway.

  • Muir Hwy btwn Manjimup and Rocky Gully - Upgrades. Lane closures under traffic lights EXPECT SIGNIFICANT DELAYS. (Updated: 12/05/22).

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 trough near the eastern border of SA will contract eastwards today away from the state. A high pressure system centred over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge across South Australia. This ridge will move eastwards on Friday ahead of a cold front that is expected to move over the west of SA on Friday then over remaining parts early Saturday.

• Rain Closure openings: Large amounts of outback SA roads have recently closed after poor weather - some have reopened with heavy restrictions. (updated: 12/05/22).

• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Lengthy closure still in place, Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 12/05/22).

• 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 trough will move over northeastern parts of the State today and Friday before gradually drifting offshore. Northerly flow will freshen across Victoria during Saturday as a cold front approaches, with winds tending west to northwesterly late in the day as the system slips southeast across Tasmania. A second front will approach Victoria's southwest late in the weekend.

• 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 over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge over Tasmania. The ridge will weaken today ahead of a trough extending over the state from the north later in the day, and moving away to the east on Friday. A prefrontal trough is expected to cross the state Saturday morning ahead of a cold front in the evening, and another front later on Sunday, embedded in a strong west to northwesterly flow.

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 strong high pressure system over the southern Tasman Sea is forecast to remain slow-moving for several days. This setup is directing humid air of tropical and maritime origin into New South Wales, which, in combination with a trough over the state's west, will generate significant rain in many areas through today. This pattern is expected to break down during Friday as the high weakens, although some districts are likely to experience further rainfall as a new trough moves across the region later on the weekend or early next week.

• Flooding - Major closures in the North West of the state. North of Broken Hill and West of Wanaaring. Avoid the area, Never drive through floodwater (Updated 12/05/22).

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 surface trough lies through the interior running from the Peninsula to the New South Wales border. A strong high in the Tasman Sea is directing an unseasonably moist airmass across the east of the state. A strong upper trough will move slowly eastward across the state over the next few days, dragging the surface trough east in response, moving offshore during Saturday. A surface trough has developed offshore the North Tropical Coast and will drift slowly southeast close to the coast over coming days.

• 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.

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

  • Wongari (Dingo) warnings – Be dingo-safe!

  • Fraser Island report - 11th May, 2022.

• Hazard: Adverse driving conditions - Peninsula Developmental Road: The Peninsula Developmental Road is subject to a 5 Tonne GVM limit from Laura to Coen due to water over road.