WILD winds of up to 100 kmh have lashed the Hunter Region since early this morning raising dust and reducing visibility to between 100 and 200 metres.
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The red dust has been brought in by a weather system from central Australia and western NSW, prompting warnings for asthma sufferes to remain indoors.
Motorists are urged to exercise caution on the road with dangerous driving conditions, heavy traffic and low visibility expected.
The State Emergency Services says it has received 175 requests for assistance statewide, including 13 calls for assistance across the Hunter, mainly for trees toppling over.
All but one of the Hunter jobs have been completed.
Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman Jane Golding said dust had settled on much of the state and visibility was poor.
``It's pretty widespread,'' she told ABC Radio.
``We've had reports of low visibility up out as far up as Moree, Dubbo, Canberra's got some raised dust in the area and Wollongong, so it's very widespread.''
The bizarre weather follows unseasonably warm temperatures and reports of visibility reduced to just 10 metres in Broken Hill.
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