Travel chaos as thick fog blankets Sydney
Flights have been affected, ferries have been brought to a standstill and motorists are facing traffic nightmares from a thick blanket of fog which has descended over Sydney.
Eerie pictures show fog blanketing the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Monday, reducing visibility to barely more than 100 metres during morning peak hour.
Sydney Ferries suspended all voyages for a time.
Flights have also been affected, with air traffic control spacing out arrivals and departures due to the poor visibility.
Road users were being cautioned right across the metro area.
'Reduced visibility in fog will make road conditions dangerous during Monday in all suburbs,' an early morning Bureau of Meteorology alert said.
However, by 8.30am the issues on the road had eased.
'The road weather alert for all suburbs has been cancelled, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further alerts will be issued if necessary,' an updated alert says.
Despite conditions easing on the roads, ferries were not expected to operate.
'No Sydney ferries are running at all due to the heavy fog,' Sydney Ferries said on Monday morning.
'Make alternative travel arrangements.'
However, as the fog lifted, ferries from began operating again, from about 9am, a Transport for NSW spokesman told NewsWire.
Footage posted online shows the thick blanket of fog engulfing the city. While there are blue skies above the low level of fog, the mist covers city skyscrapers and landmarks. Video posted from what appears to be an apartment, at least 15 stories high, shows just the top of the Sydney Tower poking out.
'Most of the Sydney landmarks – Harbour Bridge, Opera House and even some of the Sydney Tower, are still asleep behind a blanket of fog. I think it's giving us a message for the start of the work week,' the video caption reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
WIRED
5 hours ago
- WIRED
How to Beat Jet Lag
Jun 21, 2025 5:00 AM As ultra-long-haul routes take flight, plane-lighting hacks and meal planning could help passengers recover faster. Illustration: GREGORI SAAVEDRA We've all been there after a long trip—staring blankly at emails, counting the hours until bed. Yet when 2 am hits, you're still wide awake, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, trapped in the grip of jet lag. That's the price for crossing time zones too fast. Our internal clock, or circadian rhythm, governs everything from sleep to digestion to hormones and uses light to maintain its natural 24-hour cycle. But when we land in a new time zone, and day suddenly turns to night, this rhythm is thrown off balance. Most travelers adjust within a few days, perhaps with the help of a melatonin pill. But in the meantime, jet lag affects sleep, mood, and metabolism. A complete cure for jet lag is unlikely, but scientists have found ways to help our bodies keep up. 'Even reducing jet lag by a day improves the productivity and well-being of so many people,' says Svetlana Postnova, a professor of neurophysics at the University of Sydney, speaking from over 10,000 miles and 10 time zones away. Since 2015, Postnova has worked with Australian airline Qantas, which is set to launch the world's longest flights in 2027, connecting Sydney to both London and New York, nonstop. These 19- to 22-hour journeys will offer passengers an unusual experience: two sunrises on a single trip. Or at least that's what it should look like inside the cabin. This is where Postnova's expertise comes in. 'The timing of lights is key,' she says. On long-haul flights, airlines typically serve meals shortly after take-off and before landing, keeping the cabin dark in between to give passengers a chance to rest. But ultra-long-haul travel presents new challenges. Sitting in darkness for most of a 22-hour flight wouldn't just be dull, it would make adjusting to a new time zone even harder, Postnova explains. Before Qantas launched its 17-hour Perth-to-London route in 2018, Postnova's team helped fine-tune lighting and meal schedules to help passengers align their body clocks. For the upcoming flights, they're going further—experimenting not just with timing but with different light colors. 'If it were up to scientists like me who want to minimize jet lag, we'd flood the cabin with bright white light,' says Postnova. 'But that would upset a lot of people.' Instead, they've created 12 lighting scenes, including a sunrise simulation that moves gradually from the front to the back of the cabin. One key setting is the 'awake' mode, a blue-enriched light designed to help passengers stay awake at the right times. 'Blue light has a much stronger effect on our circadian clocks than, say, green or red,' says Postnova. Hence the common advice to avoid screens before bed. The best strategy? Tricking yourself into a new rhythm, even in the days before travel. There are apps to help with this, of course. Timeshifter, developed by a neuroscientist and his team, suggests a personalized schedule for light exposure and sleep based on flight itineraries. For my recent trip from Mexico to Switzerland, the app advised wearing sunglasses at the airport before departure, sleeping through dinner on the flight, and going straight to bed upon arrival. If only I had known before takeoff. But jet lag isn't just about light exposure and sleep. While the brain is our master clock, other tissues like the liver and muscles have their own clocks that regulate metabolism, the body's process of turning food into energy. A 2024 experiment from the University of Surrey and the University of Aberdeen found that metabolism recovers from jet lag faster than the brain. The researchers simulated a transatlantic flight by delaying participants' bedtimes by five hours while controlling their food intake in a lab. 'We wanted to see if meal timing could prepare the body for jet lag or shift work, in the same way that people use light and melatonin,' says lead author Jonathan Johnston, a professor of chronobiology and integrative physiology at the University of Surrey. Over five days, blood tests showed that while participants felt groggy, their metabolism bounced back much quicker than their levels of melatonin, the hormone associated with sleep. This suggests meal timing and composition could also be key to reducing jet lag, Johnston explains. 'It would be fantastic if we could come up with a single strategy to help synchronize all of people's clocks.' Translating such lab experiments to the real world comes with logistical and ethical challenges. 'You can't just take a plane full of people or recruit people and put them on a strict schedule,' says Johnston. And even if meals were set, there's no guarantee passengers won't sneak in a late snack. To test the effectiveness of light interventions, Postnova and her team have found a pragmatic approach. Select Qantas passengers, in exchange for frequent flyer points, wear wristbands that monitor their movements, light exposure, skin temperature, and glucose levels. They also provide feedback on their sleep patterns and overall well-being through questionnaires for 10 days following the flight. 'We can design scenarios in the lab or models based on desired effects,' says Postnova. 'But in reality, there are lots of things that come into play, and people have different rhythms.' So, while we don't yet have a way to comprehensively avoid jet lag, at least researchers and airlines aren't asleep on the job in their hunt for a cure.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Push for major change on Aussie tourist island after 25 years: 'Once-in-a-generation'
Just off the coast of Brisbane's north lies Bribie Island, a 34km stretch of land that has seen a rapid transformation in recent years. With its pristine beaches, growing population and rising property values, the island has become a hotspot not just for tourists, but for investors and sea-changers alike. Yet, tucked away from the beaches, shops and golf courses is a huge pine plantation that takes up nearly 20 per cent of the island. It's been a working forest for decades, but it's also sitting on land that would be worth millions on today's market. For the first time in 25 years, the trees are about to be harvested — and that's opened the door for a different conversation. Many locals are calling for change. Rather than replanting rows and rows of introduced pines, they want to bring back native forests and parklands to "restore the heart" of the island. And with the harvest beginning in July, they feel like this could be a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to restore the land before more pines are planted and a new cycle begins. "This is the best opportunity that we'll have to negotiate a better outcome for the environment," Richard Ogden, president of the Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association Inc (BIEPA), told Yahoo News. "Bribie is really trying to step up and do what's necessary to protect and conserve nature for future generations." BIEPA say the plantation is impacting the natural landscape of the island in several ways: Inadequate control of feral pigs with the plantation Drifting herbicide damaging native vegetation Pine 'wildlings' invading other areas of parklands Fears of pollution from fertiliser Big trucks loaded with logs could damage the Bribie Island Bridge Several weeks ago, HQPlantations (HQP) sent a letter to residents advising of the upcoming harvest. The population has grown by more than 50 per cent since the last harvest took place, with BIEPA fearing that some new residents may not even be aware that industrial forestry operates on the island. In a new statement on their website, HQP said they have modified their plans to minimise impacts to residents and road users. The pines will be harvested over the next 10 years at a rate of approximately 100 hectares per year. While HQP didn't respond to Yahoo's questions about future plans for the land, it confirmed in the statement that it would be replanting pine seedlings in accordance with its licensing. The company has a 99-year lease with the state government that began in 2010. HQP manages 310,000 hectares of plantation forests across NSW and Far North Queensland, planting up to 10 million seedlings annually. The Bribie Island site consists of 2,500 hectares of sustainably grown timber. Richard and his fellow volunteers at BIEPA understand that HQP are running a business and is not breaking any laws, but they feel that the goal of a restored forest can still be achieved. "What we'd like is for the state government to turn that back to a national park over time, but the only way that they (HQP) would probably agree to that is if the state government makes available an equivalent amount of land on the mainland," Richard said. "We do like to see the plantation operators as neighbours and companions, and we like to see ourselves as valuable community partners. "We're coming at it from a point of view of, obviously, conserving nature for the future and putting Bribie's nature first. But we also understand that there's a commercial imperative, and we have observed that there are very real perspectives on this, that it could very well be in the economic best interests in the future to move the plantations from Bribie. "But as we understand, it's probably going to take a number of years. It could be a decade or even two decades before that actually became complete." A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries said the plantation is essential to supply timber for the housing market. "A sustainable local timber supply is required to manage the growing demand for housing and meet the Queensland Government's commitment of constructing one million homes by 2044," they said. "Converting this plantation area to another use would require a change to the underlying State Forest tenure, and a compensation payment to HQP, which has a 99-year lease agreement. Further enquiries regarding plantation-harvesting operations on Bribie Island should be directed to HQP." The City of Moreton Bay said it is committed to "protecting and enhancing its natural areas and wildlife habitats". "While these activities are a matter for the Queensland Government, Council remains focused on 'Going Green as we Grow', playing its role in managing and protecting its natural areas while planning for urban growth," a spokesperson said. The council's Environment and Sustainability Strategy 2042 aims to maintain the region's current native vegetation cover of 42 per cent, with a view to increasing it over time. "Council also has a Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Program to acquire, restore and rehabilitate land across the City to conserve ecological communities and wildlife habitats for the benefit of our communities," the spokesperson said. On June 24, HQP is holding a community drop-in session for anyone looking for more information about the upcoming work. Find those details here. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aussies left unable to drive as cold icy weather takes over: 'Snow by the sea'
Australians are being warned as a powerful polar air mass prepares to sweep across southern and eastern parts of the country this weekend, unleashing snow, hail, damaging winds, and a sharp plunge in temperatures. Conditions in recent weeks have quite literally iced drivers out of their cars, with frosty scenes emerging all over social media. Australians have shared photos and videos of frozen windscreens from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and even parts of Queensland — a rare occurrence in the Sunshine State. Recently, a photo showing a "Welcome to the NSW South Coast" sign went viral online after it was shown surrounded by nearby snow. "Snow by the sea", the caption read, prompting thousands of responses. And while the picture was taken about 50 kilometres inland, it shows just how far the frosty conditions have spread. The wintry blast has sparked a rush of interest in how best to deal with sudden frost, especially for early-morning commuters facing thick ice on their car glass. As Australians find themselves scraping frozen glass or staring through tiny defrosted peepholes, chemistry expert Dr Nathan Kilah, senior chemistry lecturer at the University of Tasmania, has urged caution, especially against one very common mistake. "If you pour hot or boiling water on a cold windscreen, the rapid change in temperature can cause something called thermal shock and can actually crack the glass," he told Yahoo News Australia. "Because the glass on a windscreen is laminated safety glass, you can actually end up splintering it." Instead, Dr Kilah recommends using room-temperature tap water or gently scraping the frost away with a plastic card or dedicated scraper. "You can use a credit card — the plastic is soft enough that it won't scratch the glass," he said. Quiet town beating Australia in big national race: 'Saving $6000' Incredible discovery at beloved national park after tragedy Aussie council's $220k move after chaotic beach scenes anger locals Running the car's internal heater before or while de-icing can also help prevent the frost from re-forming, especially on very cold mornings. "The main thing I always mention is to make sure you remove it all — you don't want to be driving down the street like you're driving a tank, looking through a small, narrow gap," he said. As for prevention, Kilah said the only reliable method is covering the windscreen overnight. "People have used towels, blankets, or bits of cardboard," he said. "But if it's windy, those can easily blow away." Across the country, residents are being urged to prepare for the incoming frost throughout the weekend and into next week. Here are the areas set to be impacted. A powerful front will hit southwestern WA on Friday and into Saturday. Expect blustery winds and widespread showers, with 20–50 mm of rain forecast along the coastal strip, including Perth. Rainfall will also spread inland to the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions. The front will sweep across SA from late weekend through early next week. Adelaide could see a sharp drop in temperatures—from around 22 °C on Sunday to 15 °C by Tuesday—while strong winds and isolated thunderstorms may trigger severe weather warnings. Southern and southeastern Victoria are in line for widespread rain, gusty winds, and possible hail and snow in elevated areas behind the fronts. Alpine resorts like Mount Buller and Falls Creek have already recorded early-season falls (37–78 cm), and more snow is expected mid-week. Cold, wet, and windy conditions will spread across NSW and the ACT from Sunday to mid-week. Sydney's highs are expected to fall from the low mid-20s to around 18C, Canberra to about OC overnight and 12C by day, while the Snowy Mountains may see snow. Frost and sub-zero conditions are likely in elevated inland areas. Northern Tasmania has already been soaked by heavy rain—Launceston saw 24 mm, its wettest day since January—with flood warnings now in place for rivers like the North Esk. The high country near Ben Lomond also received 14 cm of fresh snow, and more snow with strong winds is expected next week. The advice comes as new data released this week by the NRMA revealed a sharp rise in wild weather-related damage this year, with more than 32,000 claims lodged between January and May, already surpassing the total for all of 2024. According to the insurer's latest Wild Weather Tracker, one in four Australians have been affected by severe weather this year, from cyclones and floods to damaging winds and storms. Autumn alone saw over 15,800 claims, largely due to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred — the first cyclone in five decades to threaten South East Queensland and northern NSW. The system impacted around four million people, and more than half of those surveyed in the region said it was their first time experiencing a cyclone. The data also revealed growing public concern, with 69 per cent of Australians saying this year's extreme events have made them more aware of weather risks. Over a third said they're now more likely to take steps to protect their property, but fewer than half feel confident they're prepared for a major event. "In the second half of winter, wetter-than-usual conditions are forecast to take hold - especially across the east," Kathryn Turner, NRMA Insurance Meteorologist and Senior Weather Risk Analyst, told Yahoo News. "In spring, we traditionally see temperatures begin to rise and humidity increase, with storm season typically beginning in late September in Queensland and October in New South Wales. "With thunderstorms an increased risk in spring, Australians should get prepared by making sure their roof is secure, clearing gutters, downpipes and drains and keeping their car undercover where possible." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
