Road Closures & Track Conditions - 25th March 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 ridge along the Queensland coast is directing humid east to northeast winds across parts of the Top End and into central NT. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will extend into central parts of the NT as a trough moves into the area. Meanwhile a ridge will persist over the southern parts of the Territory bringing slightly cooler temperatures to the far south.

• ‘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: 24/03/22).

• 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 will remain slow moving from inland Pilbara to the North Interior.

  • Fire Risk:

    • North Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • West Kimberley Coast: Low-Moderate

    • Kimberley Inland: Low-Moderate

  • Hot temps (Low 40s) expected.

  • Road Alert: Flooding alert - Gibb River Rd from Meda to Great Northern Hwy intersection. Road closed. No Detour Available.  (Updated: 24/03/22).

• Pilbara:

  • A trough will remain slow moving from inland Pilbara to the North Interior.

  • Fire Risk:

    • East Pilbara Coast: High

    • West Pilbara Coast: High

    • East Pilbara Inland: High

    • Ashburton Inland: High

    • Exmouth Gulf Coast: High

  • Mostly sunny throughout the week, temps into mid to low 40s.

  • Road Alert: Flooding alert - Ripon Hills Rd between Marble Bar turnoff and Telfer turnoff, Marble Bar - Flooding - Road closed.

• South West WA:

  • A high pressure system developing to the south of the State will move into the Bight on Thursday night. A trough is forming over the inland Gascoyne and will extend along the west coast on Thursday and on Friday. The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Charlotte will move southwards closer to the west coast during Friday and into the weekend.

  • Fire Risk:

    • Geographe: High

    • Leeuwin: High

    • 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 over Jan and Feb.

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 ridge of high pressure is situated to the south of the State, with a centre of high pressure developing south of the Bight on Friday. This high will then move eastwards to be over the southern Tasman sea on the weekend, ahead of a low pressure trough in the west on Sunday, extending eastwards early on Monday.

• Rain Closure openings: Large amounts of outback SA roads have reopened after poor weather. Some remain closed and other transit routes have restrictions  (updated: 24/03/22).

• Birdsville inside Track Closed - Lengthy closure still in place, Mungeranie to Marree (updated: 24/03/22).

• 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 high pressure system centred off far southwest WA extends a ridge over Victoria, while a trough of low pressure lies over the northeast of the State. The high will progress slowly eastwards, passing through Bass Strait on Friday, while the inland trough slowly weakens. The high will move into Tasman Sea on Saturday where it will remain over 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 ridge lies to the north of the state with a fresh and gusty westerly airstream over Tasmania. On Thursday a high pressure system will lie northeast of Tasmania with another moving south of the Bight while a cold front weakens over the state in the evening. Highs will lie to the northwest and east of Tasmania on Friday, with the high to the east becoming dominant on Saturday. A high will remain over the Tasman Sea on Sunday, directing a north to northeasterly flow over the state, with a cold front to approach the west late evening.

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 trough of low pressure lingers near the northern coast and is expected to persist into the next few days. Another trough is developing over the northern inland. The combination of these two systems will cause unsettled conditions to persist in the east and north of the state for the remainder of the week and during the weekend.

• ADVERSE WEATHER - Water over road - Wanaaring to Hamilton Gate (QLD), Hamilton Gate Road. Avoid the area. (Updated 24/03/22)

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 weakening ridge extends along the east coast. A trough in the northwest Coral Sea extends across Cape York Peninsula into the Arafura Sea. A weak trough in western Queensland, will deepen and move slowly eastward across the interior of the state from today as an upper trough begins to amplify over the south. The trough is likely to linger through the southern inland over the weekend enhancing rainfall about the south and southeast of the state.

• 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.