Poor air quality in Sydney after dust haze

Air quality in Sydney is expected to remain poor after dust and damaging winds covered the city, with another round expected overnight.

Chinese tourists take photographs as a dust storm descends on Sydney. Source: AAP

Air quality is expected to remain poor in Sydney for another day after thick lines of dust smothered much of NSW.

Strong winds from a low-pressure system whipped up masses of dirt across the drought-stricken state and from South Australian lake beds before it moved towards the coast on Thursday.

A second band was expected late on Thursday or Friday morning, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Simon Louis.

Extra paramedics and call takers were on duty on Thursday to keep up with a rise in calls from people suffering asthma and other breathing difficulties.

The gusty winds also affected flights at Sydney Airport and firefighting efforts in the Hunter, where two blazes had residents seeking immediate shelter.