Australia - Tropical Cyclone Category 5 Yasi: an extremely serious threat to life and property

[Tonka]

Source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/australia-cyclone-idUSL3E7D10UE20110201

WRAPUP 5-Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of cyclone


Tue Feb 1, 2011 7:37am EST
* Cyclone may generate winds of up to 280 kph

* Forecasters warn cyclone may sweep deep inland

* Evacuations under way in three cities

* Mines, rail lines closed; sugar crops could be badly hit (Changes dateline, adds comment, detail)

By Rob Taylor

TOWNSVILLE, Australia, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australia evacuated thousands of people from its northeast coast on Tuesday as a cyclone rivalling Hurricane Katrina bore down on tourism towns and rural communities, with officials saying it could even threaten areas deep inland that were ruined by floods last month.

Mines, rail lines and coal ports were closed in Queensland state as Cyclone Yasi headed towards the coast. Up to a third of Australia's sugar crop was also under threat, officials said.

"This storm is huge and life threatening," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said, warning the system was intensifying and picking up speed on its path from the Coral Sea, with destructive winds expected on Wednesday morning....more

 

[Pathfinder]

Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of cyclone - Yasi is large and powerful and poses a serious threat to North Queensland

Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of cyclone - Yasi is large and powerful and poses a serious threat to North Queensland

</PRE>TOP PRIORITY</P>TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 9
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 10:59pm EST on Tuesday the 1st of February 2011

A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Cape Melville to Sarina,
extending inland to east of Croydon to Hughenden.

A Cyclone WATCH is current for coastal areas from Lockhart River to Cape
Melville, and in the tropical interior north of Winton to Sarina.

At 10:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 4 was estimated to be
810 kilometres east northeast of Cairns and 820 kilometres northeast of
Townsville moving west southwest at 30 kilometres per hour.

YASI IS LARGE AND POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO NORTH
QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES

The Cyclone will continue to intensify and move in a west-southwesterly
direction overnight and during Wednesday.

DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/hr are expected to develop on coastal islands
during Wednesday morning, then extend onto the coast during the day, and further
inland across the northern tropical interior overnight.

Between Cooktown and Ingham these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in
excess of 125km/hr on Wednesday afternoon and VERY DESTRUCTIVE with gusts above
200 km/hr between Port Douglas and Cardwell during the evening as the cyclone
approaches. These VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds will extend onto the coastal ranges
including the Atherton Tablelands on Wednesday evening.

As the centre approaches and crosses the coast SEA LEVELS between Cairns and
Townsville will rise significantly above the normal tide with DAMAGING WAVES,
STRONG CURRENTS and FLOODING of low lying areas in coastal parts.

FLOODING RAINS will develop from Cooktown to Sarina during Wednesday afternoon
and then extend inland overnight.

People between Cape Melville and Sarina, extending inland to east of Croydon to
Hughenden should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially
securing boats and property.
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au]
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on
132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage].

People between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, and in the tropical interior
north of Winton to Sarina should consider what action they will need to take if
the cyclone threat increases.
- Information is available from your local government
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au]
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on
132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage].

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi at 10:00 pm EST:
.Centre located near...... 15.0 degrees South 153.1 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 35 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west southwest at 30 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 260 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 4
.Central pressure......... 940 hectoPascals


Please ensure that neighbours have heard and understood this message,
particularly new arrivals or those who may not fully understand English.

The next advice will be issued by 2:00 am EST Wednesday 02 February.

This warning is also available through TV and Radio Broadcasts; the Bureau's
website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 212. The Bureau and the State
Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.

http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQP0005.txt

http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/index.shtml
---------------------------------------------------------------

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE BRISBANE
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST TRACK MAP

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi

Issued at 11:00 pm EST Tuesday 1 February 2011. Refer to Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 9.

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

http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/index.shtml

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of cyclone - Yasi is large and powerful and poses a serious threat to North Queensland

Re: Australia evacuates coastal cities in path of cyclone - Yasi is large and powerful and poses a serious threat to North Queensland

Cyclone Yasi upgraded to Category 5 storm

Reuters
STORM APPROACHES: Cyclone Yasi is expected to generate winds of up to 280 kmh and bring heavy rain when it hits the northern coast of Queensland.



LATEST: Tropical Cyclone Yasi has now been upgraded to the most extreme storm warning category, category 5, with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology warning its impact is likely to be more life-threatening than any storm experienced in recent generations.

The Bureau warned the cyclone posed "an extremely serious threat to life and property", especially between Port Douglas and Townsville.

Yasi would continue to move in a west-south-westerly direction during today, the Bureau said.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from Australia's northeast coast as the cyclone bore down on tourism towns and rural communities, with officials saying it could even threaten areas deep inland that were ruined by floods last month.

More...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/world/4601757/Monster-storm-looms

 

[Pathfinder]

Australia - Tropical Cyclone Category 5 Yasi: an extremely serious threat to life and property

IDQP0005
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre


Media: Transmitters serving the area from Cape Flattery to Proserpine and inland
to the Northern Territory border are requested to USE the Standard Emergency
Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning.

TOP PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 23
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 10:56pm EST on Wednesday the 2nd of February 2011

A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal and island communities from Cape
Flattery to Proserpine, extending west across the tropical interior to the
Northern Territory border

At 11:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 5 was estimated to be 125
kilometres southeast of Cairns and 65 kilometres east southeast of Innisfail and
moving west southwest at 25 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Yasi, CATEGORY 5, will continue to move in a west-southwesterly
direction and is expected to cross the coast near Mission Beach close to
midnight.

AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SEA LEVEL RISE [i.e. storm tide] will occur between
Innisfail and Ayr, peaking between Cardwell and Lucinda, as the cyclone
approaches, crosses the coast and moves inland.

Higher than normal tides exceeding the high water mark, and damaging waves will
continue between Cairns and Proserpine until at least the morning high tide.

VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts up to 290 km/h are developing between Cairns
and Ingham and the adjacent ranges.

Due to the large size of the cyclone, people in the path of the VERY DESTRUCTIVE
WINDS are likely to experience these conditions for about 3 to 4 hours.

DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 125 km/h between Cape Tribulation and
Ayr are expected to spread inland overnight.

DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/hr are occurring in remaining coastal areas
between Cape Flattery and Proserpine, and are forecast to spread inland and west
to Mt Isa during Thursday.

Winds are forecast to gradually ease about the east coast during Thursday
morning as the cyclone moves inland.

FLOODING RAINS will develop from Cooktown to Proserpine tonight and gradually
extend inland.

People in the path of the very dangerous cyclone should stay calm and remain in
a secure shelter, above the expected water level, while the very destructive
winds continue.
- Do not venture outside if you find yourself in the eye of the cyclone; very
destructive winds from a different direction could resume at any time.
- Follow the evacuation advice or directions of Police, Emergency Services
personnel and local authorities.

People in remaining areas between Cape Flattery and Proserpine and extending
west across the tropical interior to the Northern Territory border, should
complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.
- Boats and outside property should be secured.
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au]
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on
132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage].

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi at 11:00 pm EST:
.Centre located near...... 17.7 degrees South 146.6 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 20 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west southwest at 25 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 285 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 5
.Central pressure......... 930 hectoPascals


Please ensure that neighbours have heard and understood this message,
particularly new arrivals or those who may not fully understand English.

The next advice will be issued by 12:00 am EST Thursday 03 February.

This warning is also available through TV and Radio Broadcasts; the Bureau's
website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 212. The Bureau and the State
Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.

http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQP0005.txt

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Australia - Tropical Cyclone Category 5 Yasi: an extremely serious threat to life and property

Tropical cyclone scales


Should a tropical cyclone form in the North Atlantic Ocean or the North-eastern Pacific Ocean, it will be classified using one of the categories in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

In the Western Pacific, tropical cyclones will be ranked using the Japan Meteorological Agency's scale.

The Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in New Delhi, India also uses a different scale to assess the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the M?t?o-France forecast center on La Reunion uses a scale that covers the whole of the South West Indian Ocean.

Both the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the RSMC in Nadi, Fiji use the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone_scales