Tropical Cyclone Narelle caused an unusual phenomenon that made Australia appear as though the world was ending. The reddening of the skies was caused by strong winds from the cyclone sweeping across the region, which lifted massive amounts of fine, rusty dust into the atmosphere. The soil is rich in iron oxide, which is similar to the rustous material on Mars. The phenomenon is a rare but not unheard of occurrence. The heavy cloud cover of the Cyclone amplified the effect, dampening direct sunlight and spreading the red hue across the landscape.