Yasi - Be scared, very scared of this storm

[trev]

Yasi, a severe tropical cyclone is heading for Cairns, a large tourist, sugar cane and banana plantaion region in north Queensland. Several hundred thousand people live in this region. Yasi, currently category 3 is intensifying and will hit Cairns in about 30 hours as a powerful and extremely large cyclone. Its eye is 100kms across and its winds strectch for 600 kms or more. Cairns is expected to be battered for more than 12 hours by winds up to 250 km/hour and possibly up to 300 km/hour. Patients are being evacuated from the Cairns hospitals to Brisbane 2000km to the south. Many people are undertandably fleeing any way they can, mostly to the south, but a 6 hour plus drive is needed to escape its tentacles, so not an easy option. North is not an option, wild wilderness is all that's up there, go west and the cyclone will chase you, although as it moves inland it will weaken, but a storm this massive weakens slowly. Massive storm surges have meant that waterfront properties have been evacuated, anyone near rivers are evacuated as extreme rains are probable with this storm.
Be scared, be very scared. Run for your lives.

[Egbert]

I hear air fares out of Cairns have gone through the roof. Queensland gets clobbered by floods and now this. Huge clean up needed. I think the flood levy is a good idea even though I am going to be hit with it.

[trev]

Yasi has now been upgraded to category 4 as expected and is continuing to stengthen further. Mandatory evacuations are now beign put in place as storm force winds are expected to begin more than 12 hours before the cyclone proper hits with full force.

[trev]

Latest warnings by the Bureau of Meteorology

IDQP0005
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Media: The Standard Emergency Warning Signal should NOT be used with this
warning.

TOP PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 9
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 10:59pm EST on Tuesday the 1st of February 2011

A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Cape Melville to Sarina,
extending inland to east of Croydon to Hughenden.

A Cyclone WATCH is current for coastal areas from Lockhart River to Cape
Melville, and in the tropical interior north of Winton to Sarina.

At 10:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 4 was estimated to be
810 kilometres east northeast of Cairns and 820 kilometres northeast of
Townsville moving west southwest at 30 kilometres per hour.

YASI IS LARGE AND POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO NORTH
QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES

The Cyclone will continue to intensify and move in a west-southwesterly
direction overnight and during Wednesday.

DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/hr are expected to develop on coastal islands
during Wednesday morning, then extend onto the coast during the day, and further
inland across the northern tropical interior overnight.

Between Cooktown and Ingham these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in
excess of 125km/hr on Wednesday afternoon and VERY DESTRUCTIVE with gusts above
200 km/hr between Port Douglas and Cardwell during the evening as the cyclone
approaches. These VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds will extend onto the coastal ranges
including the Atherton Tablelands on Wednesday evening.

As the centre approaches and crosses the coast SEA LEVELS between Cairns and
Townsville will rise significantly above the normal tide with DAMAGING WAVES,
STRONG CURRENTS and FLOODING of low lying areas in coastal parts.

FLOODING RAINS will develop from Cooktown to Sarina during Wednesday afternoon
and then extend inland overnight.

People between Cape Melville and Sarina, extending inland to east of Croydon to
Hughenden should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially
securing boats and property.
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au]
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on
132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage].

People between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, and in the tropical interior
north of Winton to Sarina should consider what action they will need to take if
the cyclone threat increases.
- Information is available from your local government
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au]
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on
132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage].

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi at 10:00 pm EST:
.Centre located near...... 15.0 degrees South 153.1 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 35 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west southwest at 30 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 260 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 4
.Central pressure......... 940 hectoPascals

[SlowwHand]

Batten down the hatches. Good luck, Trev.

[Donegeal]

Speaking of storms, Slow... where are you in regards to this big blizzard about to hit?

[Wezil]

I'm hoping for a snow day or two. I'm scheduled to travel this afternoon through to Friday.

[onodera]

All it took was for me to entertain a thought about emigrating to Brisbane. Floods and hurricanes followed. What place should I pick next?

[SlowwHand]

Speaking of storms, Slow... where are you in regards to this big blizzard about to hit?

It's here. 18 degrees currently with north winds of 20 mph, with gusts to 35. Ice on the ground. All schools closed and many businesses. Even light rail is closed.

[Lorizael]

All it took was for me to entertain a thought about emigrating to Brisbane. Floods and hurricanes followed. What place should I pick next?

Fred Phelps' house?

[Asher]

Canada

[trev]

Yasi has continued to strenghen dramtically. It is now clearly the MOST DANGEROUS storm to ever hit a populated region of Australia. It is now upgraded to category 5, the most powerful level possible. Combining that with its incredible size, this cylcone will do massive damage over a very wide area. Latest warnings.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Media: Transmitters broadcasting to coastal areas between Cape Melville to
Sarina and inland areas east of Croydon to Hughenden are requested to USE THE
STANDARD EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNAL before broadcasting this warning.

TOP PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 11
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 5:01am EST on Wednesday the 2nd of February 2011

A Cyclone WARNING is current for island and coastal areas from Cape Melville and
Sarina, extending inland to Croydon and Hughenden.

A Cyclone WATCH is current for coastal areas from the remaining tropical
interior east of Camooweal and north of Winton.

At 4:00 am EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 5 was estimated to be
650 kilometres east northeast of Cairns and 650 kilometres northeast of
Townsville moving west southwest at 30 kilometres per hour.

SEVERE TC YASI IS A LARGE AND VERY POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES AN
EXTREMELY SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY WITHIN THE WARNING AREA,
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN PORT DOUGLAS AND TOWNSVILLE.

THIS IMPACT IS LIKELY TO BE MORE LIFE THREATENING THAN ANY EXPERIENCED DURING
RECENT GENERATIONS.

The Cyclone has now reached CATEGORY 5 and will continue to move in a
west-southwesterly direction during today.

Coastal residents within the warning, and particularly between Port Douglas and
Townsville are specifically warned of an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS sea level rise
[i.e. storm tide] as the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast. The sea is
likely to steadily rise up to a level which will be VERY DANGEROUSLY above the
normal tide, with EXTREMELY DAMAGING WAVES, strong currents and flooding of
low-lying areas extending some way inland. People living in areas likely to be
affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much
as possible, and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the
area if advised to do so by authorities.

DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/hr are expected to develop on coastal islands
later this morning, then extend onto the coast during the day, and further
inland across the northern tropical interior overnight.

Between Cooktown and Ingham these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in
excess of 125km/hr during the afternoon and VERY DESTRUCTIVE with gusts above
280 km/hr between Port Douglas and Cardwell during the evening as the cyclone
approaches. These VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds can also occur on the seaward side of
hills to the north of the cyclone and are also forecast to reach the Atherton
Tablelands.

FLOODING RAINS will develop from Cooktown to Sarina during the afternoon and
then extend inland overnight.

People between Cape Melville and Sarina, extending inland to Croydon and
Hughenden should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a
safe place.
- Boats and outside property should be secured.
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au]
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on
132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage].

People about the remaining tropical interior east of Camooweal and north of
Winton should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat
increases.
- Information is available from your local government
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au]
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on
132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage].

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi at 4:00 am EST:
.Centre located near...... 15.7 degrees South 151.7 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 20 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west southwest at 30 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 295 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 5
.Central pressure......... 924 hectoPascals

[ricketyclik]

[OneFootInTheGrave]

a good time to go to Sydney.

[ricketyclik]