Road Closures & Track Conditions - 1st 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 -

• A weak trough lies near the base of the Top End. A ridge will strengthen over southern Australia this week bringing gusty winds and slightly cooler conditions across the southern half of the Territory. The high associated with the ridge will move east over the weekend cause the temperatures to rise again slightly early next week.
• ‘The Dry’ season has concluded, with La Niña conditions expected. The weather is looking wetter than average over the next couple of months. 
• Kurundi Road - Road Closed - Flooding - Between Old Police Station Waterhole and Murray Downs. (Last updated: 31/03/22).
• 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 trough extends to the Pilbara from a low pressure system in the Indian Ocean. The low pressure system will move close to the far west Pilbara coast today before slipping south on Friday. Another weak trough extends from inland Kimberley to the the North Interior.
• 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 - Lennard River to Imintji - Flooding
• Road closed. No detours available.  (Updated: 31/03/22).
• Pilbara: 
• A trough extends to the Pilbara from a low pressure system in the Indian Ocean. The low pressure system will move close to the far west Pilbara coast today before slipping south on Friday. Another weak trough extends from inland Kimberley to the North Interior.
• Fire Risk:
• East Pilbara Coast: High
• West Pilbara Coast: Low-Moderate
• East Pilbara Inland: Low-Moderate
• Ashburton Inland: Low-Moderate
• Exmouth Gulf Coast: High
• Mostly sunny throughout the week, temps into high 30s.
• Road Alert: Flooding alert - Ripon Hills Rd between Marble Bar turnoff and Telfer turnoff, Marble Bar - Flooding - Road closed.
• South West WA:
• A trough lies through the central west coast and extends into the Gascoyne. A low pressure system moves southwards close to the far west Pilbara coast today and then to the Gascoyne coast on Friday. A ridge lies along the southern coastline as a strong high pressure system builds south of the Great Australian Bight.
• Fire Risk:
• Geographe: High
• Leeuwin: Low-Moderate
• Nelson: High
• 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 strengthening high pressure system centred to the south of the Bight is directing a fresh southeasterly airstream over the State. The high will move eastwards towards Tasmania by Saturday and then weaken as it moves south of Tasmania into the Tasman Sea on Sunday, extending a ridge of high pressure over SA.
• Rain Closure openings: Large amounts of outback SA roads have reopened after poor weather. Some remain closed and other transit routes have restrictions  (updated: 31/03/22).
• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Lengthy closure still in place, Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 31/03/22).
• 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 strong high south of the Bight directs a fresh southerly flow over Victoria. The airstream will tend southeasterly during today as the high slowly drifts eastwards, and a low pressure system deepens over the Tasman Sea. These features will remain slow moving on Friday and Saturday, with the intense low lying off the NSW coast, and the high moving just southwest of Tasmania and extending a ridge to New Zealand. On Sunday the high will pass south of Tasmania, cradling the low to the north, before weakening.
• 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 strong high south of the Bight directs a cool south to southeasterly flow over Tasmania. As the high slowly drifts eastwards on Friday, a low over the Tasman Sea will intensify and move closer to the NSW coast. These features will remain slow moving on Saturday, with the high to move just southwest of Tasmania in the evening. The high will then pass to the south on Sunday and weaken, cradling the low over the Tasman Sea as it moves to a position northeast of 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 low pressure system lies off the northern New South Wales coast, and is gradually moving east. The low is forecast to move slowly southwards over the coming days, and is forecast to sit off the New South Wales South Coast on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, a high pressure system south of the Bight will continue to move slowly eastwards, extending a ridge over the western inland.
• Flooding - Water over road - Lismore to Casino. Avoid the area. (Updated 31/03/22)
• Flooding - Water over road - Lismore to Bexhill. Avoid the area. (Updated 31/03/22)

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 low pressure system lies over the northern Tasman Sea well off the southeast coast and will drift further southeast during Thursday, easing the shower activity across far southeastern Queensland. A trough extends over the northern Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait and offshore over the northern Coral Sea. An embedded weak tropical low may form within this trough during the next few days. A high south of the Great Australian Bight will extend a strengthening ridge northwards across most of the state over the next few days.
• 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 - 17th Mar, 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.