By Daily Mail ONLine  An enormous wall of dust has hit part of Australia as residents brace themselves for a tropical cyclone.

The stunning images of the wild dust storm were captured by tugboat works and aeroplane passengers near the town of Onslow in north-western Australia.

Local reports say the huge swathes of red sand and dust had been picked up by strong winds in the Indian Ocean before being dropped near the town.

Menacing: The towering red dust storm is pictured rolling across the ocean as it approaches Onslow in West Australia

Tsunami of particles: Tugboat worker Brett Martin captured the terrifying wall of dust about 25 nautical miles from the coast

About to be engulfed: Ships are dwarfed by the huge cloud of dust which sailors said reduced visibility to just 100 metres

The tsunami-like wave of sand could be seen travelling for miles and dwarfed ships out at sea.

Tugboat worker Brett Martin, who shot some of the pictures, said before the storm hit conditions were calm and glassy.

But when the dust arrived visibility was reduced to just 100 metres and the swell rose to two metres.

Looming on the horizon: Local weather forecasters said the dust had been picked up on land in the Indian Ocean

Terrifying: Families in the region were already preparing for the arrival of a category-three cyclone when the dust storm arrived

The dust storm engulfs the town of Onslow: It is the latest incident in weeks of dramatic weather in the country that has been besieged by terrible bush fires after unprecedented high temperatures

It is the latest incident in weeks of dramatic weather in the country that has been besieged by terrible bush fires after unprecedented high temperatures and strong winds ravaged much of the south east.

Now, Australia’s first cyclone of the storm season is intensifying off the country’s northwest and is expected to start affecting coastal areas in mining powerhouse Western Australia state from today, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABM).

ABM’s manager of climate services Glenn Cook told The Australian the dust storm was not directly related to the cyclone – the centre of which is still hundreds of kilometres away.

Wind gusts in Onslow reached 63mph and the dust storm was made worse by the lack of rain in the region.

Climate information officer John Relf told The Australian: ‘If it’s pretty dry in land, boom, there you go. It was the right recipe.’

He said dust storms were rare and may only happen once or twice a year, if at all.

The dramatic weather is set to continue as the category-three cyclone heads to north-western Australia.

Local forecasters warned of 60mph gales and gusts of more than 80mph and oil and mining operations are preparing to close when the cyclone lands.

Car giant Chevron is also set to evacuate workers from Barrow Island – about 30 miles off the coast.

Not over yet: The dramatic weather is set to continue as the category-three cyclone heads to north-western Australia

Rare event: Climate information officer John Relf said dust storms like the one that hit Onslow (right) were rare and may only happen once or twice a year, if at all

Inferno: South-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, has been ravaged by days of vicious bush fires

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Via Daily Mail

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