Cyclone Yasi

A major cyclone (hurricane) is expected to hit northern Queensland in about 10 hours from now.

This is a category 5 storm - more powerful than hurricane Katrina in the US and also larger than the most devastating storm in Australia's history, cyclone Tracy.

In 1974 Tracy killed 71 people and destroyed the majority of buildings in Darwin. A mass exodus after the cyclone saw the population decrease from 48,000 to 10,500.

The central eye of cyclone Yasi is about to be 100 kilometres wide. It is likely to be able to penetrate up to 500 km inland before dissipating. Winds speeds have already been recorded at 295 km/hr. The cyclone coincides with a high tide and is expected to create waves up to 12 metres high along the coast, followed by a storm surge raising the height of the water by 6-7 metres above the normal high-tide level.

The aftereffects of Yasi are likely to be felt even in southern Australia, as it will likely lead to further flooding.

More coverage:

For general, up-to-the-minute coverage, see here:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/cyclone-yasi

For a video about this cyclone itself, see here:

http://media.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/selections/cyclone-yasi-will-push-far-inland-2162931.html

Be patient - there are maps and radar images in the video.

If you're American, bear in mind when you look at the maps that Australia is about the same size as the continental United States. The distance from east to west is about the same for both. That may give you a better idea of just how big this thing is.

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To anybody who lives in Queensland, my thoughts are with you. Good luck, and please keep us updated if you can.

 

Details from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, showing expected track of the cyclone.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml

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Note: numbers on the map indicate the serverity rating of the cyclone, expected to be category 5 at landfall.

Official information:

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

Coastal residents within the warning area, and particularly between Cairns and Ayr 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 that are currently developing on coastal islands, are forecast to develop about the coast by late morning and about the tropical interior overnight.

Between Cape Tribulation and Ingham these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in excess of 125km/hr during the afternoon and early evening and VERY DESTRUCTIVE with gusts up to 300 km/hr between Cairns and Ingham during the evening as the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast. 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.​

 

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If you're on Twitter, #TCYasi is the 6th highest-trending topic worldwide, currently. A recent "good luck" message from Stephen Fry to Queenslanders hit number 1. Searches for "Yasi" on google are also trending way up.

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Windows will explode, roofs will lift and homes on stumps may simply fall over and crumble when category five Cyclone Yasi crosses the coast, experts say.

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Professor Peter Skinner, Queensland president of the Australian Institute of Architects, said house roofs would be wrenched off by uplift forces similar to the wind that runs over the wing of an aircraft.

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"Imploding is not really something to worry about ... it's more likely homes will fall over like a house of cards.

"It's a bit like a large cardboard box with a lot of movement in the walls. Windows will blow in. You'd want to be in the smallest room in the house like a bathroom."

Prof Skinner said flying debris - including roofs - was likely to cause the most widespread destruction.

He said North Queensland homes built after 1975 were constructed to withstand winds of up to 250km/h but there was no telling how they would cope with winds predicted to be in excess of 300km/h.

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Many Queenslander-type homes were at risk of blowing off their stumps unless their floors were tied down...​

 

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A sense of scale. How Yasi would look if it was over the United States.

 

Okay..

It has made landfall, near Mission Beach, which is a very small beach side tourist town south of Cairns. This will be devastating for this community and the towns and regional centres around it.

We have friends in Cairns, some of whom are shelting in our family hideaway in an area South of Cairns, with their own families, as it was supposed to be outside of the tidal surge area since they were forced to evacuate their properties during the night last night. The house is strong, with the downstairs area with bring and rendered inner walls and a concrete slab for the floor above. We lost contact with them about 2+ hours ago and we, like the rest of the State have been glued to the TV and to the Meteorology site hoping against all hope that it would weaken before landfall.

Unfortunately that was not the case. We fear for our friends and our neighbours there, many of whom are elderly. While their homes are also strong, I don't know of how strong a house has to be to withstand this.

When I saw where it was finally going to hit, I felt this sense of dread. I am concerned that the house could collapse on our friends and I am terrified for those who live in that area. None of us will be getting any sleep tonight and I am unable to reach anyone I know in that area. Waves off Townsville to the South of this monster were recorded as being at 9.5m.. And in Cardwell a storm surge of over 6.5m is being recorded above the high tide mark.

This is an area that was devastated by another cyclone a few years ago and was just getting back on its feet and many in the affected areas were affected by the floods that hit the State recently.

God help any who did not evacuate in the low lying areas.

The eye is crossing and it will be worse on the tail end..

 

Check the www.bom.gov.au site.

This is the current national radar feed for the whole country.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/national_radar_sat.loop.shtml