The red dust storm heading towards the Australian town of Onslow. (REUTERS)
As Australia braced itself for the first hurricane of the year a gigantic wall of dust slammed into the north-eastern part of the country.
Images of the terrifying red storm were caught by tugboats near the town of Onslow, according to the Daily Mail.
On a beautifully clear day the storm could be seen looming on the horizon miles before it reached shore but once it hit visibility was reduced to around 300 feet and 7 foot waves lashed the shoreline.
Dust storms are a common weather occurrence in deserts but are rarely seen in such dramatic circumstances over open ocean.
The dust storm is the latest cataclysmic natural event to hit Australia in recent weeks.
SEE: SEE HARROWING SCENE FROM WILDFIRES TERRORIZING AUSTRALIA
Wildfires have ravaged the south east while a record heat wave blanketed the entire country. On Monday a record was set for the highest ever recorded national average temperature of 104.59 degrees.