Road Closures & Track Conditions 05/08/22

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 Niña -

The Bureau of Meteorology announced the ending of a La Niña, (down to ‘WATCH’ status) on the 5th July 2022, which meant an easing of a wet winter 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 over Queensland will direct slightly warmer and more humid easterly winds across the Top End this week. A trough across the Tanami and Simpson Districts will move across the Gregory and Barkly Districts on Friday. Cooler temperatures are expected in the southern and central districts following this trough. A high will move across southern Australia during the weekend and send a dry southeasterly surge into the Top End early next week.
• ‘The Dry’ season runs from April to October, with La Niña conditions set to ease. The weather is looking slightly 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: 28/07/22).
• 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 ridge is developing over north western parts of the State and will drift southwards on Thursday and Friday.
• Fire Risk:
• North Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate
• West Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate
• Kimberley Inland: High
• Warm-Hot temps (Low 30s) expected.
• Road Alert - Gibb River Rd - Great Northern Hwy - Road widening and overlay vicinity of Deep Creek for approximately 11 km (Updated: 28/07/22).
• Pilbara: 
• A weak ridge is developing over north western parts of the State and will drift southwards on Thursday and 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
• Partly cloudy. Winds east to southeasterly throughout the week, temps top of 31c
• Road Upgrades - Great Northern Highway at Nanutarra - Munjina Road and Munjina-Royhill Road Intersections - Upgrades (Updated: 28/07/22).
  
  
• South West WA:
• Another strong cold front is moving over the coastal parts of the Southeast Coastal district and Eucla today. A ridge will begin to develop over central and northern coastal parts of the State in the wake of the cold front today. The ridge will then drift southwards on Friday. Another but weaker cold front reaches the far southwest corner of the State late Saturday and moves through the South West Land Division on Sunday.
• Fire Risk:
• Geographe: Low-Moderate
• Leeuwin: Low-Moderate
• Nelson: Low-Moderate
• Partly cloudy. Medium (40%) chance of showers in the south. 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: 04/08/22).

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 broad, complex and deep low pressure system over waters to the south of the continent is moving slowly eastwards. A series of vigorous cold fronts associated with the low will extend over South Australia and will result in windy conditions at times. A high pressure system will move across from the west later in the weekend.
• Rain Closure Closures: Strzelecki Track - Merty Merty to Mt Hopeless - Flooding. (updated: 04/08/22).
• 4WD Only - Cordillo Downs Road - Innamincka to Arrabury turn off (updated: 28/07/22)
• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Lengthy closure still in place, Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 04/08/22).
• Road Works: Road Sealing - Strzelecki Track (472km). The SA government has sealed 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 broad area of low pressure that lies to the south of the Bight is directing a north to northwesterly flow over Victoria. The low will weaken as it slowly moves south of Victoria during Friday and Saturday. A ridge of high pressure will drift over Victoria later on Sunday, bringing settled conditions early next week.
• 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 are mostly closed with the majority of seasonal road closures for 2022 beginning on 16 June. 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 front will cross the Tasmania during Thursday morning, ahead of a complex area of low pressure that will slowly approach from the west, and weaken as it does so, before passing over and south of the state on Friday. A trough of low pressure is expected to linger over Bass Strait on Saturday, while a ridge of high pressure extends well to the south, combining to produce a south to southeasterly stream over the weekend.
• Drive With Caution Warning: Cradle Mountain Road and Belvoir Road – Reports of heavy snow in the area, motorists to consider necessity to travel, use extreme caution, reduce speed and drive to the conditions.

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 near New Zealand extends a ridge across northeastern New South Wales, while a complex low pressure system, with multiple centres, is continuing to track east across the Bight. This low will move continue moving east over the next few days, with an associated trough and cold front bringing increased winds to much of the coast from today and Friday. The system looks set to decay heading into the weekend, as the next high slowly becomes dominant.
• CLOSED Road - Flood - Tibooburra to Toona Gate (QLD) - The road is closed due to flooding. Road conditions for Unincorporated Area of the Western Region are available on 08 8082 6660 (Updated 04/08/22).
• HAZARD Landslide - Mellong to Milbrodale - Putty Road between Wallaby Swamp Trail and Milbrodale Road. Roadstabalisation in place. Use an alternative route. (Updated 04/08/22).

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 ridge extends over the east and north of the state. A trough entering southwest Queensland on Thursday will move eastward across central and southern Queensland, clearing offshore of the Southeast Coast during Saturday. A high moving across southern Australia will extend a new ridge across the state over the weekend, spreading cooler and drier air across southern and central Queensland early next week.
• Birdsville: Cacoory Stony Crossing Road, Closed - from Eyre Developmental Rd to junction with Birdsville Developmental Road - Heavy rain. (Updated: 04/08/22)
• 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 - 2nd August, 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.