Road Closures & Track Conditions - 29th April 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 -

• Warmer temperatures across southern districts ahead of the next trough that moves into the Lasseter District today. A cloud band will produce showers across southern parts of the NT during Friday and Saturday. A fresh southeasterly surge will move northwards through the Northern Territory over the weekend bringing cooler temperatures to the southern and central parts. Isolated showers and thunderstorms across northern parts of the Top End this week before drier conditions return later this weekend as the next surge arrives.

• ‘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: 28/04/22).

• 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 weak trough extends near the coast from the Kimberley to the Pilbara. It will push offshore from the weekend.

  • Fire Risk:

    • North Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • West Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • Kimberley Inland: Low-Moderate

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

  • Road Alert: Flooding alert - Mt Barnett to Pentecost River - Flooding - Road open to 4WD and Trucks only.  (Updated: 28/04/22).

• Pilbara:

  • A weak trough extends near the coast from the Kimberley to the Pilbara. It will push offshore from the weekend.

  • Fire Risk:

    • East Pilbara Coast: Low-Moderate

    • West Pilbara Coast: High

    • East Pilbara Inland: Low-Moderate

    • Ashburton Inland: Low-Moderate

    • Exmouth Gulf Coast: Low-Moderate

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

  • Marble Bar Road - 80 km south of Nullagine - Plant movement
    Speed reduction and traffic management in place. Minor delays expected. (Updated: 28/04/22).

• South West WA:

  • A ridge is developing over the Gascoyne while another cold front will move over the South West Land Division today. A ridge will drift south and strengthen over southern parts of the State from later today and into Friday.

  • Fire Risk:

    • Geographe: Low-Moderate

    • Leeuwin: Low-Moderate

    • Nelson: Low-Moderate

  • Mostly sunny throughout the rest of the week. Temps into the high 20s.

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

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 will move slowly eastwards to reach the far northeast on Friday evening. A cold front will move across the south of the State on Friday, then a high pressure ridge will develop in the wake of the front. Another cold front will move across the south on Tuesday.

• Rain Closure openings: Large amounts of outback SA roads have closed after poor weather. (updated: 28/04/22).

• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Lengthy closure still in place, Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 28/04/22).

• 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 large, slow-moving high pressure system is centred in the southern Tasman Sea directing a humid, northeasterly airstream over Victoria. An approaching cold front will enter the west of the State on Friday afternoon, and progress into central and eastern Victoria on Saturday, with a ridge of high pressure following extending from the west in its wake over the remainder of 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 pressure system over the Tasman Sea is directing an east to northeasterly airstream across Tasmania. This high will move over New Zealand on Thursday, before a trough extends over Tasmania on Friday, with winds tending north to northwesterly. A cold front will cross Tasmania on Saturday, shifting winds cooler west to southwesterly. A high will build over the Bight on Sunday, directing a west to northwesterly airstream across Tasmania.

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 weakening trough over northwest NSW is generating rain across the central inland of New South Wales. The trough will continue to decay as it moves east today, with rain also easing. Another trough associated with a cold front is forecast to cross the state on the weekend, bringing wet and unsettled conditions to the west and south.

• 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 28/04/22).

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 firm ridge along the east coast, combining with a trough well offshore over the northern Coral Sea will maintain a moist onshore flow about the east coast. Another trough extends from the southern Gulf to the southern interior. The trough in the interior will weaken and move westward over the next day or two, as the associated upper level system slips away southward over southeastern Australia.

• 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 - 27th April, 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.