The usual hubbub of the Cleveland CBD, for instance, typically alive with shoppers and diners - especially in school holidays - resembled the vacant streets of an abandoned town as most store owners kept their goods inside and people stayed indoors.

Driving past Cleveland Railway Station, along Shore Street West, it was impossible to see from one roundabout to the other and the normally glistening boats in Raby Bay Harbour had all turned a dull shade of grey.

With no sun to send sparkles dancing across the water's surface, even the water itself appeared to be heavy with a thick, grey film.

As my photographer and I walked east along Middle Street, we were taken by how quiet the Coffee Club was.

It was 12.50pm - lunchtime - and not a soul sat at the outdoor tables.

A few inside tables were occupied but Coffee Club manager Jess Everest said business was definitely down.

At Cleveland Point, the Dawn Treader on the Narnia set was devoid of its brilliant colours and the bay itself was visible for little more than 100 metres; the thick wall of dust that robbed us of the usual panaoramic views made the world seem to end just off shore.

It was certainly a day for people with respiratory troubles to stay indoors and for the rest of us to venture out only when absolutely necessary.

If the old joke about washing your car to make it rain carries any truth, then we had best prepare for a deluge because I suspect every car in the Redlands will be washed this weekend.