Floods in QLD Australia

[guydesavoy]

[Torurot]

Yasi upgraded to a category five cyclone
Aaron Cook and Tom Reilly
http://www.theage.com.au/environ....gp.html
February 2, 2011

CYCLONE YASI has been upgraded to a category five cyclone, surpassing the size and destructive intensity of the cyclones Larry and Tracy.

It is expected to smash into the coast near Cairns tonight, with furious winds, torrential rain and flood adding to Queensland's massive damage bill from natural disasters this summer.

The cyclone was upgraded overnight, menaing winds of up to around the 300km/h mark are expected.

Communities between Port Douglas and Townsville are being warned of an "extremely dangerous" storm tide as it approaches the north Queensland coast.

"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," the Bureau of Meteorology said in its updated warning.

"This impact is likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations."

The storm surge is expected to reach 2.5 metres above the highest tide, inundating Cairns CBD.

The Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, said lives could be lost and warned that flooding from a storm surge, caused by high winds pushing water onshore, could be more dangerous than wind and flying debris.

''It will be a display of the awesome power of nature but it's not something you want to go outside and watch,'' she said.

When the eye of the storm strikes land about midnight, wind gusts approaching 250km/h are likely to lift roofs and cause significant structural damage.

A direct hit on Cairns was a more likely scenario according to computer models, said a senior meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, Ann Farrell.

Evacuation orders have been given to people in high-risk areas from Cooktown to Hinchinbrook Island.

The evacuation of patients from Cairns Base Hospital began at 9.15pm. About 30 were taken to the airport, where 10 planes were to ferry them to Brisbane.

"I'd rather stay here, but there's not too much you can do when a disaster strikes," said Warren McDowall, who has a hole in his bowel and is expected to remain in hospital for three more weeks. "I heard of the evacuation on the news first, but I understand why it had to happen. The sea is just across the road from the hospital and if this thing hits, this place is first in the firing line."

Six evacuation centres have been set up around Cairns, but conditions are spartan and evacuees were advised to bring food, bedding and medications.

The state disaster co-ordinator, Ian Stewart, said those fleeing the cyclone should aim to reach Mackay. He told people to get as far south as possible but urged them not to drive in high winds today.

One of Australia's leading experts on natural disasters said the centre of Cairns could be swamped by ''ferociously powerful'' waves caused by cyclone Yasi.

''This cyclone is a monster,'' warned Dr Douglas Goudie of James Cook University's Centre for Disaster Studies.

Dr Goudie said the predicted surge of two metres above king tide levels would leave much of the centre of the city under water.

''All the central business district would be under water but it wouldn't be slow-moving water. This surge would be powered by winds of around 280km/h and that would produce ferociously powerful waves that would be terribly destructive. These waves might not be very high but they would be carrying objects that could smash into buildings and we could see a lot of damage.

''When you combine this with the wind speeds that are predicted, this cyclone is a very frightening prospect,'' he said.

Supermarkets in Cairns reported panic buying of essential supplies. Airlines put on extra flights to help visitors leave the area and Townsville and Cairns airports were expected to close by this morning, after at least 900 people fled the city by air yesterday.

Sea ports are also closed.

Further north in Cooktown, the community of 2200 people was bunkering down to withstand the storm.

''The winds could reach up to 300 kilometres an hour and could cause a lot of structural damage,'' said the Cook Shire Council mayor, Peter Scott.

''Cooktown is an old town but a lot of the buildings built from 1975 are built to withstand cyclones.''

with Georgina Robinson and AAP

[Torurot]

To help understand the size of the category 5 cyclone (hurricane) bearing down on the north Queensland coast:
http://www.news.com.au/breakin....n7ik2te

[Guest]

I'm just watching it all unfold now on Australian TV (ABC Asia Pacific)......Very Worrying about how many people have chosen to remain in their beach front homes with major damage and destruction anticipated.

[f0xxee]

To date: 6 hours after the eye passed over the coast near Misson Beach with winds of 285kph:
No deaths, minor injuries. Obvioulsy major damage. Mind you like "Cyclone Alley" in West Australia, they have plenty of practice with several cyclones a year and know what they are doing.

For live streaming news go to:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/

[koykaeng]

Melbourne received some fairly substantial rainfall last night, together with rather nasty storm conditions.

At the time. I didn't appreciate the severity of the storm, and decided to leave my parent's home and attempt to drive to my apartment which is less than 10 minutes away.

I turned into a small suburban street and before I knew it, I was driving through water coming halfway up the car door, and the engine soon stalled.

Just as I was about to crap my pants, some guys on the footpath offered to give me a push, and I managed to re-start the engine and drive home through the most incredible conditions I've ever experienced.

In one local shopping centre, it appeared as though every retail premises was being flooded.

When I arrived back at my apartment, I was greeted by water streaming down the walls in my study, water leaking through the skylight in my toilet, and a new 'water feature' in my bedroom, comprising wet curtains and totally soaked carpet.

Very frustrating to say the least, however when you consider the guys in Far North Queensland who have lost their entire house, it puts things into perspective.

P.S.  I hate the smell of damp carpet !

Cheers
Koykaeng

[azza33]

Yup last night was seriously wet... and today also in parts ...

Hanging out to go back to that Thai place again KK