Cyclone Yasi

[Feuer Frei!]

This is a big one, moving towards the coast of Far North Queensland, due to hit coast sometime late Wednesday evening, early Thursday morning.
The cyclone is currently a category 3, with wind gusts up to 220 kph, moving at a westerly direction at 35 kph.

Issued at 11:12 AM.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6625/idq65001r.gif

Edit:
New update issued at 1:59pm
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4582/idq65001a.gif
The trajectory has changed, ever so slightly.

I live in Townsville, was thinking of getting in the car and heading south to Yeppoon to avoid the bulk of the onslaught, however people are evacuating from all over the far north coast region, traffic will be a major problem.

Predictions are that the cyclone will hit category 4 before land fall, which is massive.
AUTHORITIES will evacuate two hospitals in Cairns as Cyclone Yasi approaches, with the air force to take patients to hospitals in safe areas.
AIRLINES are putting on extra flights to evacuate tourists and residents as Cyclone Yasi approaches.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/7945/919562cycloneyasigraphi.jpg

Problem is, i have to go to work tonight, won't finish until 10pm, then home to make final preperations for the onslaught.
Looks like i'm gonna try to sit this one out.
I seriously hope the idiots at work are going to close up shop Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, since the schools are closing for those 3 days, which has already been confirmed.
I wish everyone that lives in the danger zone good luck, Queenslanders are tough, we will get through this as well.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9821/201102010332mtsat2xvis2.jpg

[Gargamel]

Good luck Mate.

Check in when you can.

:salute:

[Feuer Frei!]

Thanks Gargamel. :salute:
Latest reports are that Cairns will 'cop' the full brunt of this monster, with predictions of 2 mtr. storm surge in some parts of Cairns when Yasi hits.
The initial prediction was of 6 mtr storm surges!
2 mtrs, 6 mtrs., no matter how you slice and dice it, this is going to be terrible. :-?

[Feuer Frei!]

Sorry mate didn't see it. Good luck and hope you and yours are all OK. This one looks like it could be worse than Larry. How did you fare with that one?
No probs.
So far we are ok, the cyclone hasn't hit yet, we are preparing as best as we can, i'm just worried, like a lot of us here.
With Larry, i was lucky enough not to experience that devastation, having been interstate.
Yea, this is consideredd to be the worst cyclone Queensland has ever seen/experienced.
Larry was a low category 5, Yasi will be a 4 but this thing is a monster, the eye is 100 klm wide, and 500 klm wide all up!
Huge.
And the expected wind gusts will be in the range of 250 klm per hr to over 300!
Devastating power.
:nope::shifty:

[Reece]

I didn't realize you lived in Townsville, you have certainly been through a bit lately, I wish you all the best, if it does hit will you evacuate or see it through? do you have a basement or somewhere safe to hold out?:hmmm:

[Feuer Frei!]

I didn't realize you lived in Townsville, you have certainly been through a bit lately, I wish you all the best, if it does hit will you evacuate or see it through? do you have a basement or somewhere safe to hold out?:hmmm:
Yea, i think i will see it out, i live in a 2-story Queenslander-style house, with a garage d/stairs, however i can't get my car in there as the other 2 occupants are taking the spots.
So my car will be on the side of the road, hopefully it'll be ok.
As for the house, i'm really not sure if it will hold up to a 200+ klm/hr wind battering.
All these older style houses have dam tin roofing, but i think even in those kind of cyclonic winds, tiles would not be much good either.
Some low-lying areas here are being evacuated, with door-knocks beginning at 5am tomorrow, due to the expected storm surges. Luckily, we are not in one of those areas affected.
The cyclone is moving on a south-south-westerly heading, which means it's 'lining up' Cairns with surrounding areas getting the edges of it. But with this sucker, 'getting the edges of it' means you may as well be near the centre of it because of it's hugeness.
Scary stuff this, you listen to people talk about this cyclone and they are really worried, some scared. These are people who have experienced Cyclone Larry and numerous others, so they are 'hardened' people.
Means a lot when those sorts of people get worried.
I'll be watching the Bureau of Meteorology updates continuously, because these cyclones can change course rapidly.
Fingers and legs crossed.

[Growler]

Christ, lad. Keep your head down. Even subs dive in that kind of weather.

PLEASE be safe, you and everyone with you.

[Jimbuna]

Best of luck....as if the west coast of Aussie hasn't had enough to put up with already :nope:

[Feuer Frei!]

Thank you gents.
The latest news is that this could well turn into a category 5 cyclone, bigger that Cyclone Tracey, which wiped out Darwin in 1974.
Estimated wind speeds currently as a category 4 are 280klm/hr at it's centre, with a category 5 reaching 300 klm/hr.
As i said previously Cairns, approx 3.5 hours north of Townsville will bear the brunt of this, however because of it's huge size, where i live will still be at the mercy of this behemoth.

[TarJak]

Its looking like a nasty one:http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/yasi-looms-large-over-tiny-tracy-20110201-1ac5o.html

Got upgraded to Cat 5 overnight! +300km/h winds are not healthy.

[THE_MASK]

300kph = 186 mph for the american friends .

[THE_MASK]

320 kph now = 200mph

[Growler]

F-in' 'ell.

Thoughts with all of you.

[Jimbuna]

Brace for a basum people :o

[Reece]

If it's going to be a cat 5 I would get the F out of there!!:oops::yep:

[Rockstar]

I experienced hurricane HUGO in South Carolina. I learned there is nothing to do for 'cane that size but take what you can and flee the area.

Stay safe, and stay far away.

[krashkart]

Doesn't sound like a storm I'd want to be around for. :o

[Pioneer]

Freu,

Buddy of mine is in the Police at Innisfail, lives just east at Flying Fish Point. Got an email from him during the day (USA time) saying the family is heading out to Charters Towers. He obviously can't go.

Bligh is talking about one hour to leave, you got a place to run to?

[Feuer Frei!]

UPDATE:
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6642/idq650018.gif

Dam! I should have got out while i had the chance! Too late now, the rains have started now, and the winds are galeforce already. The trajectory has changed, now more of a southerly route, Townsville now back in the 'destructive winds' range.
Nore than 10, 000 homes are expected to be affected, with a big storm surge expected to flood low-lying areas.

Here's a comparison:
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5659/581665cyclonecomparison.jpg

:nope::nope:
Wind gusts exceeding 320 k/ph expected after it hits land.

Edit:
A window of opportunity has arisen, the rains have abated, winds have died down enough, as i type this i'm packing a bag of necessities and getting the hell out of here!
Driving south beyond Sarina, out of harm's way.
Signing off, take care all :salute:

[Pioneer]

Best of luck....as if the west coast of Aussie hasn't had enough to put up with already :nope:


East coast.

[Reece]

Good luck mate!!:oops::yep:

[the_tyrant]

Good luck mate:salute:

[krashkart]

Edit:
A window of opportunity has arisen, the rains have abated, winds have died down enough, as i type this i'm packing a bag of necessities and getting the hell out of here!
Driving south beyond Sarina, out of harm's way.
Signing off, take care all :salute:

Luck be with you, bud. See you when you get back. :yep:

[Pioneer]

For non Queenslanders:

It is customary that the coast gets 4-5 cyclones(hurricanes) in the Dec - March period. This is not unexpected, nor is that part of the State unprepared. Each Regional Police Hub conducts exercises with the Army and Air Force on preparations, evacuations and restoring access. In addition, the people who live in the area, know the threat, as they constantly live with it.

Queenslanders are hearty people who understand the hostile environment they live in.

[bookworm_020]

Take care, stay safe and keep your head down!

[kiwi_2005]

Good luck aussies, sounds like a wicked storm. Been the smoko discussion here at work. 280 mile per hr winds :o

[papa_smurf]

Smegging hell, sounds like your going to take the full brunt of that Cyclone.

Be safe:salute:

[Pioneer]

Yasi has crossed the coast at Mission beach, near Innisfail.

Freau's residency is about 150m to the south on the "clean" side of the cyclone. He was headed south away.

Cardwell Police report the highways are still open.

[krashkart]

"Clean" side? :06:

[TheDarkWraith]

This will give you an idea of the size of this cyclone. It is superimposed onto the US:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=285&pictureid=3631
:o

[Jimbuna]

East coast.

My mistook....but I knew what I meant to type :DL

[krashkart]

This will give you an idea of the size of this cyclone. It is superimposed onto the US:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=285&pictureid=3631
:o

Holy moley! :dead:

[Geno_Mariner]

That is a massive Cyclone. Hope everyone from here in QLD are ok :-?

[TarJak]

So far no reports of deaths or injury from the cyclone. Lots of damage in the coastal towns of Tully, Mission Beach and Innisfail. Cairns and Townsvill also suffered quite a bit of damage, but not as much as they feared.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/tully-residents-reveal-horror-of-cyclones-wrath-20110203-1ae48.html

[Reece]

Seems that it must had died very quickly upon reaching the coast, probably down to a cat 3, very lucky indeed!!:oops::yep: I do wonder how the small islands in Yasi's path held up!:hmmm:

[Pioneer]

"Clean" side? :06:


A cyclone spins clockwise. The "arms" of the cyclone pick up water over the ocean. Freu was almost due south of the eye of the cyclone so he got winds and water, the "clean side".

As the arms spin over the land, it picks up debries and starts destroying things. As it swirls, it carves a path through everything.

My buddy in Innisfail, north of the eye of the storm, had to endure the arms swinging across the land, and laying waste. Hence, the "dirty side" of the storm, which brings more carnage and damage.

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/02/03/1225999/231870-innisfail-house.jpg

[Rockstar]

Those critters spin counter clock wise in the northern hemisphere (just like when we flush the toilet <j/k> ;). Also too the clean side here is routinely called the dangerous semi-circle where winds are most intense because of the combination of rotation and direction of storm.

Found out too in addition to the damage caused by hurricane force wind speeds. Even greater damage was found from the many tornados which spawned when hurricanes Hugo and Andrew passed through.

Hope everyone down under makes it through this monster ok

[papa_smurf]

Some pictures of the aftermath of Yasi:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12343256

[TarJak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II5Hzpyt_cI

[krashkart]

A cyclone spins clockwise. The "arms" of the cyclone pick up water over the ocean. Freu was almost due south of the eye of the cyclone so he got winds and water, the "clean side".

As the arms spin over the land, it picks up debries and starts destroying things. As it swirls, it carves a path through everything.

My buddy in Innisfail, north of the eye of the storm, had to endure the arms swinging across the land, and laying waste. Hence, the "dirty side" of the storm, which brings more carnage and damage.



Thank you for explaining that. :salute:


Edit: Sure is some beautiful countryside there. *continues browsing the pictures*

[THE_MASK]

No reports of any deaths yet but 3 births . No loses but 3 gains LOL .

[Rilder]

No reports of any deaths yet but 3 births . No loses but 3 gains LOL .

Wouldn't surprise me to hear of some pregnancies. :rotfl2:

"Honey we are gonna die, take me don't worry about the condoms!"

[bookworm_020]

There are some concerns over a guy who went out to move a boat to a better mooring, but hasn't been seen since.

[Pioneer]

Port Hinchinbrook looks nothing like the last time I sailed there.


http://media01.couriermail.com.au/multimedia/cycloneyasi/categories/images/pics/yasic2.jpg

[TarJak]

There are some concerns over a guy who went out to move a boat to a better mooring, but hasn't been seen since.
ABC News reckons he's been found alive. Apparently so far the only confirmed death is a bloke who asphyxiated himself using his generator in an enclosed room.:88) http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/02/04/3130039.htm

Some amazing images here:http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/cyclone-yasi/gallery.htm

[papa_smurf]

Port Hinchinbrook looks nothing like the last time I sailed there.


http://media01.couriermail.com.au/multimedia/cycloneyasi/categories/images/pics/yasic2.jpg

Thats going to be rather expensive to clean up.

[Growler]

Thats going to be rather expensive to clean up.
:wah::wah::wah::cry::cry:

Oh, that hurts.:wah:

[Feuer Frei!]

Hello Kaleuns,
all is well, house was not damaged, a fair few plants were razed, lots of cleanup around the house has just been finished.
All safe and well, i came back to Townsville late Friday afternoon after making it as far as Proserpine, spent the good part of 10 hours in my car with cyclonic winds and heavy rains battering the car.
Obviously couldn't sleep, and all places were shut when i reached Proserpine, so it was certainly a hair-raising experience, to say the least!
We finally got power back only today, about 3 hours ago, after having no power since Wednesday, approx. 16:00!
Finally: air-conditioning!
Had to throw all my food out obviously, however, the government has offered a $1000 disaster relief fund for such a occurance, one of the stipulations being that if you are w/o power for 48 hrs. or more then you qualify.
It will come in handy for sure!
You wouldn't know that a category 5 cyclone 'grazed' Townsville, about 20 or so kilometres o/s of the city everything looked normal.
It is only upon entering the citie's outer suburbs/areas that you truly begin to realise that something big has occurred.
Huge trees felled, walls collapsed, leaves, branches and all sorts of matter strewn across streets.
Windows broken from houses and businesses, etc etc.
A terrible, demorilising sight to return to, let me tell you.
Thank you to the people who wished me well, much appreciated :salute:
The clean-up has well and truly begun, it will be many many months, even years in the harder-hit areas like Tully and Innisfail before there is any resemblance of 'normality' appearing for those poor folks.
May God be with them and speed up recovery and well wishes to all who were affected.
Over and out.

[Rilder]

Port Hinchinbrook looks nothing like the last time I sailed there.


http://media01.couriermail.com.au/multimedia/cycloneyasi/categories/images/pics/yasic2.jpg

Boats, they hunt in packs to take down large prey. :rotfl2:

[TarJak]

Hello Kaleuns,
all is well, house was not damaged, a fair few plants were razed, lots of cleanup around the house has just been finished.
All safe and well, i came back to Townsville late Friday afternoon after making it as far as Proserpine, spent the good part of 10 hours in my car with cyclonic winds and heavy rains battering the car.
Obviously couldn't sleep, and all places were shut when i reached Proserpine, so it was certainly a hair-raising experience, to say the least!
We finally got power back only today, about 3 hours ago, after having no power since Wednesday, approx. 16:00!
Finally: air-conditioning!
Had to throw all my food out obviously, however, the government has offered a $1000 disaster relief fund for such a occurance, one of the stipulations being that if you are w/o power for 48 hrs. or more then you qualify.
It will come in handy for sure!
You wouldn't know that a category 5 cyclone 'grazed' Townsville, about 20 or so kilometres o/s of the city everything looked normal.
It is only upon entering the citie's outer suburbs/areas that you truly begin to realise that something big has occurred.
Huge trees felled, walls collapsed, leaves, branches and all sorts of matter strewn across streets.
Windows broken from houses and businesses, etc etc.
A terrible, demorilising sight to return to, let me tell you.
Thank you to the people who wished me well, much appreciated :salute:
The clean-up has well and truly begun, it will be many many months, even years in the harder-hit areas like Tully and Innisfail before there is any resemblance of 'normality' appearing for those poor folks.
May God be with them and speed up recovery and well wishes to all who were affected.
Over and out.
Good to hear that you and yours are all OK. Sounds like you bananabenders have had a rough time of it recently. Hope things settle down and you can get back to normal soon.

[Growler]

The clean-up has well and truly begun, it will be many many months, even years in the harder-hit areas like Tully and Innisfail before there is any resemblance of 'normality' appearing for those poor folks.
May God be with them and speed up recovery and well wishes to all who were affected.
Over and out.

Thanks for the update, and glad to hear you're well and not at great loss from the storm - it was surely shaping up to be a dangerous event, but it appears that you came through. :up:

[Jimbuna]

Thanks for the update, and glad to hear you're well and not at great loss from the storm - it was surely shaping up to be a dangerous event, but it appears that you came through. :up:

Amen

[bookworm_020]

Amen
+1:up:

[Feuer Frei!]

In the wake of the cyclone, the damage bill could top $500 million, according to the Federal Government.
Source (http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/cost-of-yasi-damage-will-top-500m-says-gillard-20110204-1agvk.html)

Banana growers have said that about 75 per cent of their crop - valued at about $350 million - would be wiped out – with a dramatic price hike to follow. Sugar growers, meanwhile, estimate that about 20 per cent of their crop will be lost.
Insurance claims are estimated to be about $125 million.

All figures are preliminary, of course.

[bookworm_020]

All figures are preliminary, of course.

And bound to go up!