Tropical Cyclone Yasi

It'll probably be a bit quieter than normal at A Snail's Eye View for the next few days as Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi approaches Queensland. This is a very big storm and is likely to do a lot of damage as it crosses the coast. The current watch zone extends from Cooktown to Yeppoon (near Rockhampton) and inland as far as Georgetown (about 300km from the coast.) Yasi is serious business.

Image from Fiji Meteorological Survey. (The small blob to the SW is ex-TC Anthony)

Bureau of Meteorology forecast track map for Severe TC Yasi 

(as of 31 Jan 2011)

The current BoM model has the storm making landfall between Innisfail and Mackay late Wednesday/early Thursday, although this prediction may change as more data become available. Given my location (about 55km inland from Innisfail), I'll be spending tomorrow making sure than everything important is in waterproof containers. Just in case something happens to the roof and/or windows. The BoM expects winds in excess of 100km/hr by mid-morning Wednesday, well in advance of the main part of the storm.

Meanwhile, a lot of people will be in a much worse position than me. Storm surge models show extensive inundation of the coastal plain. Also more than a metre of rain may fall in some areas during the cyclone. Ports from Cairns to Mackay have been closed, resorts and nursing homes evacuated and the population in low-lying areas asked to consider relocating.

It's going to be a bumpy ride.