Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Yet Another Cyclone Is Coming ... Yep, Yet Another Cyclone Is Coming ... and it's a doozy!

‘Wet’ season here in northern Oz not only means heavy rainfall, but the possible occurrence of significant weather events like cyclones.

So far this ‘wet’ season we’ve had one Category 1 cyclone … Tropical Cyclone Tasha … which passed a little further north of us on Christmas Day morning. That cyclone deteriorated to a rain depression when it moved inland and went on to contribute significantly to the flooding experienced throughout central and southern Queensland.

Then on Monday this week, a borderline Category1/2 tropical cyclone, TC Anthony crossed the coast just south of us.  It made landfall in my home town where my Dad and brother still live.  Luckily there wasn't too much damage but they did experience 150 kilometre/hour winds and torrential rain.  Trees were squashed flat, caravans tossed around, some smashed windows ... but that was about the extent of the damage.

Well, today we're bracing ourselves for the arrival of possibly the largest tropical cyclone Queensland has experienced.  TC Yasi is on its way ... and it's a monster.  It will dump another massive amount of rain over Queensland as it deteriorates and moves inland ... and that is, of course, the last thing this state needs!


It's predicted to become a Category 4 just before it crosses the coast. Category 5 is the highest possible category for cyclones, this is going to be a bad one.  We've been closely watching it all day today and it's begun moving quite quickly towards the coast. No-one can be entirely certain where it might make landfall, but at the moment it's predicted to be further north, maybe up around Innisfail or Cairns.


Community Threat Past Cyclone Details
Warning Zone - Gales within 24 hours
Watch Zone - Gales from 24 to 48 hours
Past Location and Intensity Number
Past Track and Movement
Current Cyclone Details Forecast Cyclone Details
(at 24 and 48 hours from issue)
Current Location and Intensity Number
Very Destructive Winds
Destructive Winds
Strong Gale Force Winds
Forecast Location and Intensity Number
Very Destructive Wind Boundary
Destructive Wind Boundary
Strong Gale Force Wind Boundary
Most Likely Future Track
Range of Likely Tracks of Cyclone Centre

It is however a huge system and we will definitely be affected. Nursing homes and one boarding school was evacuated yesterday ... and today most of the low-lying areas close to the coast have been warned to evacuate. There's a huge storm surge expected to hit Townsville and we will experience the outer edge of the destructive winds.

All schools are closed tomorrow and Thursday, so I get to stay at home. We have relatives living in the inner city who have been warned to evacuate so we'll be looking after them.  The supermarket shelves here are almost bare ... there's not a tin of Baked Beans or a roll of toilet paper to be found. On the way home from work this afternoon I saw incredibly long lines of cars waiting to fuel up at the petrol stations because we're expected to lose power for a while. People are queued at ATM's to get cash ... and there's not a battery to be found in this great city of ours!  I have to say too, lol, that there's not much wine or beer left in the bottle shops either!!! Typical for Aussies!

Ah ... the tropics! Anyone thinking of migrating for the wonderful weather??? Hmmm?

29 comments:

  1. Thinking of you Bernie. I hope you don't have too much damage and everyone stays safe. My daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren in Cairns are busy preparing as well. It's a very scary cyclone.

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  2. Thinking of you Bernie ,and the rest of Queensland ,you know the old saying 'when the going gets tough'and Aussies are pretty tough especially Queenslanders these days!
    ~Sharon~

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  3. I have been watching cyclone Anthony’s path on the internet it looks a horrendously large storm Bernie, Batten down the hatches and stay safe my friend. I will be thinking of you.

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  4. Bernie, I can't believe this weather! We are supposed to have a major blizzard today with close to two feet of snow. Everything is to the extreme lately.

    Eileen

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  5. Dear Bernie ~ You are in my thoughts and prayers. We have thought of moving to you country, didn't realize you have cyclones/hurricanes too. Our season for them is June through November. We try to be stocked up with canned goods, etc. gas for our generator, and wine too. I do hope all of you and yours are safe and suffer little damages.

    FlowerLady

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  6. As I sit here with another snowy blizzard burying us in the U.S., I am alarmed at what you show on that map. What a monster storm, and Queensland does not need any more water, and certainly not winds. Be safe.

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  7. Praying that you will be safe through this horrific storm!

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  8. I think my town is planning to sit out the cyclone with tinnies in both hands. I'm heading over to the neighbours for the duration. If a tree is going to fall on my house, I don't want to be in it. (The house that is. But I wouldn't want to be in the tree either!)

    Stay safe. Hope everything is okay!

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  9. Take care Bernie, keep safe. Thinking of you.

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  10. Oh no! I saw this on the news and thought of you... please be safe!

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  11. What a weather year so far. I hope it fizzles out on the way in Bernie. Stay safe my friend.

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  12. Just saw an article on MSNBC.com about Yasi and immediately thought of you. So, I'm purposely popping over to your blog to wish you safety. My thoughts will be with you and your family!

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  13. Stay safe, Bernie. I'm one of the bloggers waiting for the old fashioned winter blizzard to hit us in the states. I'd much rather deal with snow than a cyclone.

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  14. I'm complaining about the cold weather but I know it is not the same as going through a rain storm and trying to stay dry. My thoughts are with you every time I hear about the weather there. Praying you will stay high and dry.

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  15. Yikes Bernie, after 3 months almost straight of wet weather, I don't envy you! I feel remarkably blessed with the weather here right now though. Thanks, I think I'll stay put ;) I'd say 'stay dry', but I'm not that's an option. Do stay safe though.

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  16. Thinking of you and yours, Bernie, and hoping you stay safe & dry.

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  17. Scary stuff Bernie. I have4 been watching it on the T.V. I hope you don't fare too badly. My thoughts are with you and all the others up there in this trouble.

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  18. Thats a big one coming Bernie, hope you and your family will be safe there. Praying for you too.

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  19. Bernieh I am thinking of you. I keep watching hourly on BOM and the picture now is ugly. Hope you come through this one safely and all your family and friends too.
    Thank you for your nice comment on my nature blog.
    Good luck Bernie.

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  20. I've been thinking about you Bernie since I heard the news this morning about this cyclone. I hope it does pass further north than you but I'm sure it is such a worrying time for everyone in Queensland. I can remember last year your dad also had problems with a cyclone.

    I'll keep popping over for updates and I hope you don't lose your power for too long.

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  21. Thoughts and prayers are with you as you encounter this horrible storm. Just found your blog throught Adventure before Dementia and wanted to tell you that I am thinking about you here in West Texas USA. Please be safe.
    Blessings!
    CottonLady

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  22. I am following your extreme weather today, Ground Hog Day. Here on Long Island we are having an Ice Storm. It covers all of my plants and bends them to the ground. The weather here hasn't been warm enough to melt the snow that has accumulated for several weeks. Now this. The weight is too much for some shrubs and trees. Prayers for all of us and the plants that we tend.

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  23. Hope you didn't get too much damage and that you are OK.

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  24. Hi Bernie, I was thinking of you the whole time while this disaster was approaching and hoping that you and your family are safe. Now, it is devastating to see all the damage to houses and crops. Luckily no life was lost. I hope you are OK.

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  25. I hope all is well Bernie! Again so soon! Is this normal? it is Thursday here in Massachusetts. Thinking of you and others in your part of the world. I have been focusing on Egypt . . . will have to go check out the storm damage. Your post is really well done! I hope the worst missed you!

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  26. Wishing you the best, Bernie. Your post was like a weather report in all its scariness. Donna

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  27. Oh, Bernie, I do hope you and your loved ones are safe! My thoughts and prayers have been with you as I watched news reports about this terrible storm.

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