Road Closures & Track Conditions 27 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 weak high will move across the Bight today and Friday and extend a weak southeasterly surge across the Top End into the weekend. A cloud band may develop next week and extend over southern districts bringing a cool change and the possibility of some rainfall to the southern half of the Territory.

• ‘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: 26/05/22).

• 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 shallow trough near the Kimberley west coast and central and eastern Pilbara will move offshore for a period in the mornings. Another trough is expected to develop over western parts of the Pilbara from Friday.

  • 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 - Gibb River Rd - Seal 15 km in 5km sections between El Questro turnoff and Pentecost River. Stop/slow traffic management in place with speed restrictions. Delays of less than 5 minutes may be experienced.  (Updated: 26/05/22).

• Pilbara:

  • A shallow trough near the Kimberley west coast and central and eastern Pilbara will move offshore for a period in the mornings. Another trough is expected to develop over western parts of the Pilbara from Friday.

  • Fire Risk:

    • East Pilbara Coast: Low-Moderate

    • West Pilbara Coast: Low-Moderate

    • East Pilbara Inland: Low-Moderate

    • Ashburton Inland: Low-Moderate

    • Exmouth Gulf Coast: Low-Moderate

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

  • Road closed - Nanutarra Munjina Rd both directions between Manuwarra Red Dog Hwy (Bingarn Rd) and Hamersley Rd - Flooding (Updated: 26/05/22).
    
    

• South West WA:

  • A weak front will brush the southwest coast of the State early today followed by another weak front on Friday. A more significant front will reach the south coast later Saturday before moving east along the Eucla on Sunday.

  • 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: 26/05/22).

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 low pressure trough over the east of South Australia will continue to move eastwards, reaching Victoria this morning. A small high pressure system will develop over the northern Bight later today and then move slowly eastwards over the north of South Australia later in the week and to the east early Sunday. Weak fronts will move over the south of the State on Friday and Saturday, and then a more significant cold front will move over the west of the State later Sunday and the remainder of the State on Monday. This cold front will bring colder conditions with freshening northerly winds ahead of the front, shifting fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly in its wake.

• Rain Closure openings: Large amounts of outback SA roads have recently closed after poor weather - some have reopened with heavy restrictions. (updated: 26/05/22).

• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Lengthy closure still in place, Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 26/05/22).

• 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 low pressure trough over western Victoria will slowly cross the remainder of the State during Thursday and Friday. A short-lived ridge of high pressure will become established over central Victoria on Saturday, as another weak cold front approaches Tasmania. A second, stronger front and associated low pressure system will approach the State from the west 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 over the Tasman Sea is directing a north to northeasterly flow over Tasmania. A trough will move over Tasmania during Thursday afternoon and evening as an associated low slides to the southwest. A weak cold front will cross Tasmania during Friday morning then linger about the northeast. Another trough is expected to weaken as it moves over Tasmania on Saturday, then remain over the state on 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 high pressure system over the southern Tasman Sea will move east to be near New Zealand by Saturday, while a coastal trough is bringing showers across the northeast with onshore winds. A trough over the west of the state will slowly move east across the interior today and tomorrow before moving off the east coast on Saturday, with a stronger cold front set to push across the state into the new 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 19/05/22).

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 high in the southern Tasman Sea maintains a ridge over most of the state. The high will slowly move east over the next few days, weakening the ridge. A weak upper trough will move across central and southern Queensland during Thursday and Friday. A trough will linger off the southeast coast over the next day or two. A low may form within the offshore trough later Thursday or during Friday and move away south into the Tasman Sea over the weekend. A drier southwesterly airflow will bring mostly fine conditions across most of the state over the weekend.

• 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 - 24th May, 2022.

• Hazard: Adverse driving conditions - Recent rain has resulted in major closures with Long-term flooding throughout central QLD. With roads closed in both directions. Do not drive in flood waters.