Dust, heat hit Victoria

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 6

Dust, heat hit Victoria

NZPA Melbourne A huge dust storm swept across Victoria yesterday afternoon, plunging Melbourne into blackness. As the city sweltered in its highest February temperature on record, the wall of dust moved across the city, closing airports and forcing motorists and city office blocks to switch on lights. Office workers ran for cover as the choking storm, the worst seen in the city since the mid-19405, swept down. Melbourne had its highest February temperature on record with a maximum of 43.2 deg. C (110 deg. F) at 2.35

p.m.. before the cooler change, which brought the dust to the city, covered the sun and dropped temperature Bdeg. in 15 minutes. The searing heat gave Victorian fire-fighters one of their busiest days on record, with 53 outbreaks spread across the state. A huge bushfire was burning late yesterday afternoon in rugged country in the east of the state and was spreading into New South Wales. New South Wales firefighters were bracing themselves for a big day today with temperatures in the 40s and strong northerly winds forecast.