Road Closures & Track Conditions - 18th 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 ridge along the Queensland coast will maintain easterly winds across the Top End for the remainder of this week. Showers and thunderstorms will persist over parts of the Top End. Showers and thunderstorms will contract into the central districts as a trough moves northwards into that area on Friday. A ridge will develop across southern NT on Friday and remain during the weekend bringing a weak cool change across the south.

• ‘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 (high 30s) 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: High

    • West Pilbara Coast: Very High

    • East Pilbara Inland: High

    • Ashburton Inland: High

    • Exmouth Gulf Coast: Severe

  • 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 high is moving into the Bight and trough is developing over the inland Gascoyne and down near the west coast. It will move east on Friday across the South West Land Division. Another weak front brushes the southwest coast late Friday and into Saturday with a ridge to develop south of the State in its wake. On Sunday, the trough over the inland Gascoyne moves east and across the Goldfields.

  • 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 trough of low pressure in the northeast is weakening. A high pressure system will develop south of the Bight later on Thursday, then move to a position south of Tasmania by Saturday morning. Another trough will move over western districts on Monday.

• 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 cold front and low pressure trough will move across Victoria tonight, followed by a high pressure system which will become established over Tasmania during Friday. The high will weaken and move to the southeast of Tasmania on Saturday, to be replaced by another high approaching from the west. A broad, weak trough is expected to develop over the State on Monday, while another cold front approaches from the Bight.

• 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 trough is crossing Tasmania ahead of a cold front this evening and early Friday. A trough will linger about the north of Tasmania on Friday, retrogressing through Bass Strait in the afternoon while a high approaches the west. The high will extend a ridge over the state on Saturday while it moves to the southeast and decays. On Sunday a weak ridge remains over Tasmania from another high approaching the southwest. This ridge is expected to remain over the state as the new high drifts to the southeast during Monday.

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 ridge of high pressure along the New South Wales coast will remain slow moving and bring a few showers to coastal parts over the coming days. Meanwhile, an upper and surface trough system will move across the states east on Friday, with showers and thunderstorms expected. A new high pressure system will extend a ridge across New South Wales from early next week,with a return to settled conditions expected.

• 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 high [1031 hPa] over the southern Tasman Sea extends a ridge along the east coast, and will persist for several days. A new high will move into the Tasman Sea over the weekend and reinforce the ridge along the east coast. A weak trough will linger off the eastern Peninsula and North Tropical Coast over the next few days, enhancing shower activity. A weak trough will move into far western Queensland on Friday and remain slow moving.

• 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.