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VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS, ELEVATED SEA LEVELS and LARGE WAVES are likely to impact on the Whitsunday Islands during Sunday morning.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish, a CATEGORY 5 CYCLONE, is located off the north Queensland coast and at 10:00 pm EST was estimated to be 180 kilometres north northeast of Hayman Is and 275 kilometres east northeast of Townsville, moving southeast at 17 kilometres per hour.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish at 10:00 pm EST:
.Centre located near...... 18.5 degrees South 149.3 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 19 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the southeast at 17 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 295 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 5
.Central pressure......... 930 hectoPascals
Hamish, a most severe cyclone is located around a 100km off populated regions of the Queensland coast and currently moving roughly parrellel with the coast. With its winds around 200 miles per hour, if it hits the coast at this strength damage may be catastrophic. Large regions of the Queensland coast are home to popular tourist resorts, particularly on the islands out to sea in the Great Barrier reef. Many of these islands have been evacuated although on some islands with cyclone proof shelters some people are remaining.
The real threat is if it moves closer to the coast, already this very severe cyclone has stayed closer to the coast than cyclones usually do this far south along the Queensland coast. Further north buildings are built to higher cyclonic standards, as it moves southwards, this cyclone is approaching regions where buildings are not designed to withstand storms of this power. So if it veers towards the coast at all, catastrophic damage is probable with significant loss of life.
Substantial rainfall is already hitting the coast causing some flooding, we can only hope the winds themselves will stay away.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish, a CATEGORY 5 CYCLONE, is located off the north Queensland coast and at 10:00 pm EST was estimated to be 180 kilometres north northeast of Hayman Is and 275 kilometres east northeast of Townsville, moving southeast at 17 kilometres per hour.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish at 10:00 pm EST:
.Centre located near...... 18.5 degrees South 149.3 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 19 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the southeast at 17 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 295 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 5
.Central pressure......... 930 hectoPascals
Hamish, a most severe cyclone is located around a 100km off populated regions of the Queensland coast and currently moving roughly parrellel with the coast. With its winds around 200 miles per hour, if it hits the coast at this strength damage may be catastrophic. Large regions of the Queensland coast are home to popular tourist resorts, particularly on the islands out to sea in the Great Barrier reef. Many of these islands have been evacuated although on some islands with cyclone proof shelters some people are remaining.
The real threat is if it moves closer to the coast, already this very severe cyclone has stayed closer to the coast than cyclones usually do this far south along the Queensland coast. Further north buildings are built to higher cyclonic standards, as it moves southwards, this cyclone is approaching regions where buildings are not designed to withstand storms of this power. So if it veers towards the coast at all, catastrophic damage is probable with significant loss of life.
Substantial rainfall is already hitting the coast causing some flooding, we can only hope the winds themselves will stay away.
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