The airborne dirt tracked through the Riverina earlier on Tuesday afternoon before descending upon Cowra around 3.30pm.

Weatherzone’s Ben Domensino said the dust storm “may reach coastal areas” as early as Tuesday night.

“The dust storm was being created as blustery north-westerly winds picked up dry top soil across drought-stricken areas of western and southern inland NSW,” Mr Domensino said.

According to the weather expert, it is the latest in a series of dust storms that have affected NSW after a prolonged run of drier than usual weather throughout most of last year.

Every month except for October and November received below-average rain in 2018, making it the state's sixth driest year on record overall. January this year was also drier than usual.

The raised dust in western NSW will move east ahead of an approaching cold front.