Yasi is a huge, dangerous cyclone

[Dengue]

Hell, Yasi is the biggest cyclone the meterologists have ever seen to hit Queensland. It is huge, moving fast towards us, and is very powerful, expected to reach Category 4 (out of 5) by Wed pm. There is a cyclone watch that covers 1400 km, 700km either side of Townsville. We have been told to finish our preparations by this afternoon, as on Wednesday the winds and rain will be too strong.

Have a look at the links below to get some idea of the size of this thing. Cairns is 400 km north of us, and Yasi is heading that way ( God help them), but we are still in the destructive winds zone in excess of 125km/hr here in Townsville - that is incredible!!

The State Emergency Services are sending automatic SMS messages and phone calls to everyone in the risk area, that's how serious it is, and for those on the low lying coastal areas, they are advising evacuation now because of the huge tidal surges expected.

The shops are sold out, and people up here are taking this one really seriously.

This link is still the best way to see it, as it gives some indication of the size:

MTSAT Infrared Colorized Image Loop - Satellite Services Division - Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution

Tropical Cyclone Threat Map Page (1)

Tropical Cyclone Advice for System 1

[Claw Hama]

Best of luck to everyone up that way, play it safe and stay alive. Good time to come south and visit fellow forumites.

[tea lady]

:c

[Cliff Rogers]

G’day all.

We are preparing for a big cyclone.

We were going to be going on Holidays on Friday but it looks like we will be at home cleaning up.

Today we are at home securing our property.

Wednesday & Thursday this week we will be battened down, Friday Saturday & Sunday will be clean up.

Will play it by ear after the cyclone as to when I will be able to go on holidays.

We may be without power, phones & internet for a while too.

Here are a few pictures to look at.

We live just west on Innisfail up in the mountains about 865M above sea level.

MTSAT Infrared Colorized Image Loop - Satellite Services Division - Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution

Tropical Cyclone Threat Map Page (1)

[Mulgabill]

Good luck to everyone in FNQ. Please say safe!!!

[A Duke]

Just imagine the saw dust a cyclone that size could sort out.
All jokes aside the best of luck and stay safe all of you.
My thoughts are with you

[Dengue]

It is literally dead calm and very humid here in Townsville NQ. Now I know what they mean by "the calm before the storm". The barometer hasn't started dropping yet.

I think tomorrow morning it will start raining and blowing, so everyone is being told to finish their preparations today (Tuesday)

I would not like to be living in FNQ. Have had several emails from friends and former colleagues in Cairns, all along the lines of:

We have been battening down since Anthony but it was a minnow compared to Yasi

Looks like we may be in for a ride.

I'm not looking forward to this one !!

[gidgee 1]

good luck to all in nth qld.Stay safe.
cheers gidgee1

[Dengue]

Wednesday & Thursday this week we will be battened down, Friday Saturday & Sunday will be clean up.

Cliff, Yasi is due to hit your area at 4am Thurs, if not sooner, so I would not be leaving it until Thurs to batten down.

Good luck

[chrisb691]

To all in FNQ, my thoughts are with you. Please stay safe.

[Groggy]

Better tie yourself to a rock Cliff. Good luck with it mate.

[derekh]

Stay safe Cliff and Jill, my SIL in Mackay is getting warning and evacuation SMS messages and thats miles from the expected epicentre. So, yep it's going to be a rough ride. All the best.

[Dengue]

derekh, it will hit Cairns as a category 4, but it is so large that it will hit Mackay as a Category 2- and that is 800km south of Cairns. I would definitely not like to be living in FNQ right now

[Spanner69]

looks like Townsville will be spared the worst of it but it is apprently still going to be cat 2 cyclonic winds for us here.

[AlexS]

Stay safe, all.