Misty Rain Fog and Rain October 2021

Norfolk Island was wrapped in fog and mist this week as the fog developed across the island clinging to the tall Norfolk Pine trees and the draped down Mt Pitt and the hillsides all the way to the bottom of valleys. Qantas Thursday flights from Brisbane was postpone to Friday as the airport visibility was marginal as the mist and rain covered the airstrip.

I took a few photos in town during the afternoon and even at 3:30pm, headlights were needed as the view down the road was only fog and mist. I am sure the visibility was under 100metres as the mist and fog fell and covered the shops in town in Burnt Pine.

Overnight the rain settled in and the reading on Friday morning at 7:30am was approximately 77mm since 9am Thursday. The humidity was 100%, so if felt like the November weather had arrived.

Kingston swamps and waterways were filled to overflowing on Friday morning. The sand build up has broken flashed through into Emily Bay and storm flood water burst into the bay and a sand bar and a gushing stream has now formed again. This is a health concern as the water quality will be dangerous for swimming and public have been advise not to enter the water until the storm water clears. Hopefully a few high tides will flash out the unhygienic water and dilute the swamp water. My thoughts also goes to the coral and fish in the lagoon and the long-term effect on the fragile underwater world.

It is great to read that this week is also National Water Week 2021. Great timing to celebrate the water week with so much water around. It is wonderful to see streams flowing and ponds filled, a relief to have water in the everyone’s water tanks again.

Here are a couple of photos I took on Thursday of the misty fog and the Kingston swamp filled to overflowing Downtown.

Remember to take care if you decide to go for a swim, wait until the flood waters clear to be on the safe side.

Betty Matthews

October 2021