Obs from 25 minutes ago:
Flinders Reef, QLD: 985.6 hPa 55 kt sustained gusting to 69 kt
Holmes Reef, QLD: 986.3 hPa 48 kt sustained gusting to 61 kt
SPAC: YASI (14U /11P) - Severe Tropical Cyclone
Moderator: S2k Moderators
Queensland evacuations urged ahead of Cyclone Yasi
Australian officials have urged residents in parts of Queensland to evacuate with their loved ones before Cyclone Yasi strikes, late on Wednesday night local time (after 1200 GMT).
State Premier Anna Bligh said people should just "grab each other" and find safety before the storm hits the coast.
Officials say the category five storm is expected to be the largest to ever hit the continent.
Last month, Queensland was hit by widespread deadly flooding.
Yasi is currently 555km (344 miles) east of Cairns and 560km northeast of Townsville. It has winds of up to 295 km/h (183 mph) at its centre. [sic]
Ms Bligh warned that Queenslanders faced a "frightening time".
Thousands of people have already fled their homes close to the coast and the army has flown hospital patients in the northern city of Cairns to further south to Brisbane.
Ms Bligh told all those remaining in low-lying areas, which are at threat from severe flooding, to leave swiftly before roads and airports close.
"Do not bother to pack bags. Just grab each other and get to a place of safety. Remember that people are irreplaceable," she said.
Those living further inland were meanwhile told to "bunker down" in their homes and prepare for powerful winds.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned that Cyclone Yasi posed an "extremely serious threat to life and property within the warning area, especially between Cairns and Townsville.
"This impact is likely to be be more life threatening that any experienced during recent generations," it warned.
More than 400,000 people live in the cyclone's expected path. The area, which includes the Great Barrier Reef, is also popular with tourists.
Cairns airport closed on Wednesday. Rail lines, mines and coal ports have also shut down.
"We're in the process of packing up boxes... the dogs and the pet snake and getting out of here," Melissa Lovejoy, from Cairns, told Australia's ABC news.
She said the family are moving to a friend's house that was further inland.
Earlier, Ms Blight warned that the state was "facing a storm of catastrophic proportions in a highly populated area".
"We're looking at 24 hours of quite terrifying winds, torrential rain, likely loss of electricity and mobile phones. People really need to be preparing mentally if nothing else."
Senior BoM forecaster Gordon Banks said the storm had the potential to get even stronger after making landfall.
"As a strong category five we could see wind gusts in excess of 320 kilometres an hour, which is just horrific," ABC News quoted him as saying.
"If you're bunkering down in the regions, it's going to be quite frightening and it's going to go on and on for quite some time."
Australian officials have urged residents in parts of Queensland to evacuate with their loved ones before Cyclone Yasi strikes, late on Wednesday night local time (after 1200 GMT).
State Premier Anna Bligh said people should just "grab each other" and find safety before the storm hits the coast.
Officials say the category five storm is expected to be the largest to ever hit the continent.
Last month, Queensland was hit by widespread deadly flooding.
Yasi is currently 555km (344 miles) east of Cairns and 560km northeast of Townsville. It has winds of up to 295 km/h (183 mph) at its centre. [sic]
Ms Bligh warned that Queenslanders faced a "frightening time".
Thousands of people have already fled their homes close to the coast and the army has flown hospital patients in the northern city of Cairns to further south to Brisbane.
Ms Bligh told all those remaining in low-lying areas, which are at threat from severe flooding, to leave swiftly before roads and airports close.
"Do not bother to pack bags. Just grab each other and get to a place of safety. Remember that people are irreplaceable," she said.
Those living further inland were meanwhile told to "bunker down" in their homes and prepare for powerful winds.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned that Cyclone Yasi posed an "extremely serious threat to life and property within the warning area, especially between Cairns and Townsville.
"This impact is likely to be be more life threatening that any experienced during recent generations," it warned.
More than 400,000 people live in the cyclone's expected path. The area, which includes the Great Barrier Reef, is also popular with tourists.
Cairns airport closed on Wednesday. Rail lines, mines and coal ports have also shut down.
"We're in the process of packing up boxes... the dogs and the pet snake and getting out of here," Melissa Lovejoy, from Cairns, told Australia's ABC news.
She said the family are moving to a friend's house that was further inland.
Earlier, Ms Blight warned that the state was "facing a storm of catastrophic proportions in a highly populated area".
"We're looking at 24 hours of quite terrifying winds, torrential rain, likely loss of electricity and mobile phones. People really need to be preparing mentally if nothing else."
Senior BoM forecaster Gordon Banks said the storm had the potential to get even stronger after making landfall.
"As a strong category five we could see wind gusts in excess of 320 kilometres an hour, which is just horrific," ABC News quoted him as saying.
"If you're bunkering down in the regions, it's going to be quite frightening and it's going to go on and on for quite some time."
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Re: SPAC: YASI (14U /11P) - Severe Tropical Cyclone
The Queensland area has survived several strong hurricanes in the past but Yasi looks like a real monster. Hope everybody finds shelter before this comes ashore.
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Latest warning:
IDQP0005
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
Media: Transmitters serving the area from Cape Flattery to Sarina and inland to
Georgetown are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before
broadcasting the following warning.
TOP PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 14
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 1:53pm EST on Wednesday the 2nd of February 2011
A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal and island communities from Cape
Flattery to Sarina, extending inland to Julia Creek and to the area west of
Croydon.
A Cyclone WATCH is current for the remaining inland parts west to the Northern
Territory border and north of Winton.
The Cyclone WARNING from Cape Melville to Cape Flattery has been cancelled.
At 1:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 5 was estimated to be 345
kilometres east of Cairns and 360 kilometres northeast of Townsville and moving
west southwest at 35 kilometres per hour.
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE 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 CAIRNS AND TOWNSVILLE.
DURING THE EVENING, THE VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE OF CYCLONE YASI WILL CROSS THE
COAST BETWEEN CAIRNS AND INGHAM, ACCOMPANIED BY A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE SOUTH OF
THE CYCLONE CENTRE.
Tropical Cyclone Yasi, CATEGORY 5, will continue to move in a west-southwesterly
direction. The cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Innisfail and
Cardwell close to midnight.
Coastal residents within the warning area, and particularly between Cairns and
Proserpine including the Whitsundays, are specifically warned of an EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS SEA LEVEL RISE [i.e. storm tide] as the cyclone approaches, crosses
the coast and moves inland. 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 currently affecting the coast and
islands, and are forecast to spread into the tropical interior overnight and
west to Julia Creek during Thursday.
Between Port Douglas and Ayr these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in
excess of 125 km/hr developing during this afternoon and early evening,
spreading into the tropical interior overnight. VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with
gusts up to 290 km/hr are expected to develop between Cairns and Ingham during
the evening as the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast. These VERY
DESTRUCTIVE winds will also occur on the seaward side of hills to the north of
the cyclone and also affect the Atherton Tablelands.
Due to the large size of the cyclone, people in the path of the VERY DESTRUCTIVE
WINDS are likely to experience these conditions for about 3 to 4 hours.
Winds are forecast to gradually ease about the east coast during Thursday
morning as the cyclone moves inland.
FLOODING RAINS will develop from Cooktown to Sarina during the afternoon and
then extend inland overnight.
People between Cape Flattery and Sarina, extending inland to Julia Creek and to
the area west of Croydon 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 inland parts west to the Northern Territory border
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 1:00 pm EST:
.Centre located near...... 16.8 degrees South 149.0 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 30 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west southwest at 35 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 290 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 5
.Central pressure......... 930 hectoPascals
Please ensure that neighbours have heard and understood this message,
particularly new arrivals or those who may not fully understand English.
The next advice will be issued by 3:00 pm EST Wednesday 02 February.
This warning is also available through TV and Radio Broadcasts; the Bureau's
website at http://www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 212. The Bureau and the State
Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.
IDQP0005
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
Media: Transmitters serving the area from Cape Flattery to Sarina and inland to
Georgetown are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before
broadcasting the following warning.
TOP PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 14
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 1:53pm EST on Wednesday the 2nd of February 2011
A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal and island communities from Cape
Flattery to Sarina, extending inland to Julia Creek and to the area west of
Croydon.
A Cyclone WATCH is current for the remaining inland parts west to the Northern
Territory border and north of Winton.
The Cyclone WARNING from Cape Melville to Cape Flattery has been cancelled.
At 1:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 5 was estimated to be 345
kilometres east of Cairns and 360 kilometres northeast of Townsville and moving
west southwest at 35 kilometres per hour.
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE 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 CAIRNS AND TOWNSVILLE.
DURING THE EVENING, THE VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE OF CYCLONE YASI WILL CROSS THE
COAST BETWEEN CAIRNS AND INGHAM, ACCOMPANIED BY A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE SOUTH OF
THE CYCLONE CENTRE.
Tropical Cyclone Yasi, CATEGORY 5, will continue to move in a west-southwesterly
direction. The cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Innisfail and
Cardwell close to midnight.
Coastal residents within the warning area, and particularly between Cairns and
Proserpine including the Whitsundays, are specifically warned of an EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS SEA LEVEL RISE [i.e. storm tide] as the cyclone approaches, crosses
the coast and moves inland. 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 currently affecting the coast and
islands, and are forecast to spread into the tropical interior overnight and
west to Julia Creek during Thursday.
Between Port Douglas and Ayr these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in
excess of 125 km/hr developing during this afternoon and early evening,
spreading into the tropical interior overnight. VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with
gusts up to 290 km/hr are expected to develop between Cairns and Ingham during
the evening as the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast. These VERY
DESTRUCTIVE winds will also occur on the seaward side of hills to the north of
the cyclone and also affect the Atherton Tablelands.
Due to the large size of the cyclone, people in the path of the VERY DESTRUCTIVE
WINDS are likely to experience these conditions for about 3 to 4 hours.
Winds are forecast to gradually ease about the east coast during Thursday
morning as the cyclone moves inland.
FLOODING RAINS will develop from Cooktown to Sarina during the afternoon and
then extend inland overnight.
People between Cape Flattery and Sarina, extending inland to Julia Creek and to
the area west of Croydon 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 inland parts west to the Northern Territory border
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 1:00 pm EST:
.Centre located near...... 16.8 degrees South 149.0 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 30 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west southwest at 35 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 290 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 5
.Central pressure......... 930 hectoPascals
Please ensure that neighbours have heard and understood this message,
particularly new arrivals or those who may not fully understand English.
The next advice will be issued by 3:00 pm EST Wednesday 02 February.
This warning is also available through TV and Radio Broadcasts; the Bureau's
website at http://www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 212. The Bureau and the State
Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.
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HurricaneRobert
- Category 3
- Posts: 812
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 9:31 pm
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Typhoon_Willie
- Category 5
- Posts: 1042
- Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Greenacres City, Florida
Re: SPAC: YASI (14U /11P) - Severe Tropical Cyclone
I hope not in any case it looks like Yasi is going to cause a lot of chaos...
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-
TheStormChaser
- Tropical Wave
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:11 am
Re: SPAC: YASI (14U /11P) - Severe Tropical Cyclone
If anyone is interested, there are currently some storm chasers who have set up a webcam of their chase of Yasi. They are currently located in Ingham. Broadcasting of this event by them will continue through the night, local time.
http://www.swxc.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=15
http://www.swxc.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=15
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