Road Closures & Track Conditions - 3rd December 2021

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 relatively dry airmass extends across the Top End resulting in isolated showers and thunderstorms confined to the coasts. Heat building across the base of the Top End is expanding across much of the Northern Territory during the week as a trough deepens near the SA border, resulting in low to severe heatwave across most parts of the NT. A heat trough near the base of the Top End will deepen this week and will cause isolated showers and thunderstorms to spread slowly inland late in the week and ease the heatwave later in the weekend.
• ‘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: 1/12/21).
• Central Australia has seen significant rainfall in the last few weeks. Some tracks in southern NT are closed or impassable.

View the live interactive Road Conditions Map HERE

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 lies over the inland Kimberley and Pilbara.
• Fire Risk:
• North Kimberley Coast: Very High
• West Kimberley Coast: Very High
• Kimberley Inland: Very High
• Hot temps (reaching high 30s to low 40s) expected.
• Road Alert: Bushfire - Great Northern Hwy from Broome Rd intersection to 2km past Nillibubbaca Rest Area, Roebuck.
  Exercise Extreme Caution. Firefighters on site. (Updated: 24/11/21).
• Pilbara: 
• A trough lies over the inland Kimberley and Pilbara.
• Fire Risk:
• East Pilbara Coast: Extreme
• West Pilbara Coast: Extreme
• East Pilbara Inland: Severe
• Ashburton Inland: Severe
• Exmouth Gulf Coast: Very High
• Mostly sunny throughout the week, temps into the low 30s to low 40s.
• Nanutarra - Burrup Road, Dampier - Road Block - Road closed to all vehicles. Emergency Services Onsite. Seek Alternative Routes. (Updated: 24/11/21).
  
  
• South West WA:
• A high pressure ridge lies along the south coast with a broad trough over the South West Land Division. A weak cold front may brush the southwest coast during Wednesday with the ridge becoming established south of the State on Thursday.
• Fire Risk:
• Geographe: Low-Moderate
• Leeuwin: Low-Moderate
• Nelson: High
• Cloudy throughout the rest of the week, with a chance (up to 80%) of showers. Temps into the high 20s/ low 30s.
• Quite extensive road works being undertaken on the South Coast Highway over October and November.

View the live interactive Road Conditions Map HERE

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 far west of SA will move over the remainder of the west and south today then slowly over the northeast and far north during Thursday and Friday. A high pressure system will become established over the Bight on Friday then move eastwards over the weekend.
• Rain Closures: Large amounts of outback SA roads have been closed due to poor weather. The majority remain closed and have restrictions  (updated: 1/12/21).
• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 1/12/21).
• North East of state - Floods update, Most tracks are closed. Cordillo Downs Road - Arrabury turn off to SA/QLD Border, is open with restrictions (updated: 1/12/21).
• Road Works: Road Sealing - Strzelecki Track (472km). The SA government will seal the first 50-kilometres, Starting just north of Lyndhurst (until late 2021).

View the live interactive Road Conditions Map HERE

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 high pressure system south of New Zealand extends a weakening ridge along the southern New South Wales coast. A coastal trough is located near the north coast, with an embedded low pressure system likely to develop offshore of the Mid North Coast this afternoon. This low will then more further offshore tomorrow. A broad area of low pressure is located in the far west of the state, but will develop further as a new trough enters the southwest of the state tomorrow, before moving across the state on Friday.
• 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.

View the live interactive Road Conditions Map HERE

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 pressure system to the east of Tasmania continues to weaken today with warm to locally hot northeasterlies ahead of a weak trough crossing in the afternoon and early evening. The high to the east remains dominant on Thursday, with northeasterlies prevailing ahead of a trough bringing a westerly change over Tasmania in the afternoon and evening. A cold front is expected to cross early Friday with a trough to linger about the northeast in the afternoon and into Saturday morning before a high pressure system moves over the state during the afternoon.

View the live interactive Road Conditions Map HERE

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 south of New Zealand extends a weakening ridge along the southern New South Wales coast. A coastal trough is located near the north coast, with an embedded low pressure system likely to develop offshore of the Mid North Coast this afternoon. This low will then more further offshore tomorrow. A broad area of low pressure is located in the far west of the state, but will develop further as a new trough enters the southwest of the state tomorrow, before moving across the state on Friday.
• HAZARD Road damage: Tibooburra to Toona Gate - Toona Gate Rd - Exercise caution - Traffic affected in both directions. (Updated: 30/11/21).

View the live interactive Road Conditions Map HERE

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 weak ridge extends over eastern Queensland, while a trough over western Queensland is expected to move eastwards across central and southern Queensland over the next day. An upper trough over central parts of the state is enhancing rainfall over south eastern Queensland as it moves east. The upper trough is expected to cross southeast Queensland through this evening. A weak trough may linger over central Queensland from Thursday. A high moving into the Great Australian Bight late in the week and over the weekend will extend a new ridge over much of the state.
• Cape York: Peninsula Developmental Road - Road Works - at Archer River Road.
• Fraser Island:
• Areas of concern - Eurong beachfront, Eli Creek, Maheno, Lake McKenzie, Waddy Point beachfront Wathumba and Orchid Beach. Due to increased human-wongari interactions, extra vigilance is required in these areas.
• 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 - 26th November, 2021.
• West/Central West QLD :  Massive Rain has resulted in flooding closures.

View the live interactive Road Conditions Map HERE

For more state by state travel information head over to our Travel Information Hub.