Smoky haze from Australian fires covers Nelson Tasman

Monday, 25 November 2019

The red sunsets in the Nelson region are caused by smoke and dust from Australia.

Smoke and dust from Australia has led to hazy days and spectacular sunsets in the Nelson region.

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said the haze from Australian bush fires was visible in satellite images.

'We can clearly see a trace of that smoke and dust blowing over the Tasman, an enormous trail.'

He said there was a southerly moving up the South Island which was clearing out the haze, but a return of the northwesterly wind from the north Tasman would bring the smoke and dust back early this week.

* Why the smoke from bushfires makes the sunrise and sunset so colourful

* Smoke from Victorian bushfires makes it across the Tasman Sea**

'Even though Monday will be a lot clearer, it's going to come back for Tuesday and probably linger through the rest of the week as well.'

He said the aerial debris was covering a lot of New Zealand, in a 'very diffuse layer', which would be 'particularly noticeable at sunrise and sunset'.

Satellite imagery shows large dust and smoke clouds moving across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

There was no cause for anyone in New Zealand to be concerned about air quality during the phenomena, which he said was 'a curiosity but not a safety issue'.

🌞Hazy sunsets🌞

Thanks to Louise Edwards for sending this 📸 through. A southerly change sweeps up NZ today which will clear much of the haze out. However on Tuesday the northwesterly winds return, bringing the heat and the haze once again. https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^TA pic.twitter.com/doLHD62Wem

— MetService (@MetService) November 23, 2019

'It's obviously a risk in Australia … but over here it's at levels that we're seeing no indications or reports that it's anything to worry about.'