TC Anthony & TC Yasi, Batten down the hatches, Queensland.... Again. Options

[SquallStrife]

Right now the BOM is tracking TC Anthony, which is already unleashing Mother Nature's brand of category 2 fury all over Bowen and Hamilton Island.

Unfortunately, it seems that big brother is riding its tail, in the form of Category 3 TC Yasi, which will supposedly make landfall in Australia on Thursday, most likely in the same region currently under assault by Anthony.

Are there any atomicans up in that area?

<sub>TC Yasi is currently within the coverage area of the Nadi Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Fiji. When it passes 160 degrees east longitude, it will enter the area monitored by the Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, and further updates and warning will be available from the BOM's website.

TC Yasi is currently at category 3. TC Tracy was reportedly at category 3 before it made landfall in Darwin.</sub>

Update: TC Yasi is nearing the jurisdiction of the Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Watch Centre, and data is now available through the BOM.

It is currently predicted to reach category 4 before making landfall. At this rate, the effects will be equal to or greater than those of TC Larry.

Curved band 1.1 on MTSAT VIS at 0230UTC gives a DT of 4.0. Outflow increasing further to north and starting to now increase to the south. System is showing increased organisation with persistent deep convection near its centre. TC is entering a favourable environment for intensification and ridge to south is expected to steer it rapidly towards the west southwest.

Be safe!

Update: Overnight, Severe TC Yasi entered the Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre's coverage area. All further updates will now be issued through the BOM's website.

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

Update: As of the update released at 7PM Tuesday, TC Yasi is now a Category 4 system. http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQP0005.txt It appears to have picked up pace, and is predicted to make landfall tomorrow evening.

Update: As per the bulletin issued at 5AM Wednesday, TC Yasi is now a Category 5 system. http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQP0005.txt

This Category 5 system is now a more powerful storm than TC Larry, and is nearly 700KM across.

Update: Between 8:00 and 8:10 AM this morning, the rain radar facility on Willis Island went offline as TC Yasi passed directly overhead.

Update: As of 7PM Wednesday evening, gale force winds have begun assaulting the far north. Conditions will worsen beginning now, and throughout tonight, expected to peak around midnight as the eye crosses the coast line.

THE AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS HAS PROVIDED A PHONE NUMBER TO HELP PEOPLE FIND FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT CANNOT BE REACHED.

THE PHONE NUMBER IS 1300 993 191

THIS NUMBER IS NOT FOR GENERAL WEATHER OR SHELTER INFORMATION.

Update: Mac Dude has informed us that emergency services are locked down, and will not become available until the worst of the storm has passed.

Update: As at 7AM Thursday, TC Yasi is now a category 2 system. Gale force winds are still affecting some regions southeast of Georgetown. A series of flood warning have been issued for central QLD, as Yasi continues to produce copious amounts of rain, and will potentially do so for a day or two. The current prediction is for Yasi to remain as a category 1 system into tonight, and to downgrade to a tropical low overnight.

Update, a few tidbits from "Today" on Nine: Emergency calls are now being taken in Townsville and Innisfail. The peak of the storm surge is due at around 9AM in Cardwell, which will cause additional flooding in the area.

Update: As at 7PM Thursday, TC Yasi remains as a category 1 system, bringing heavy rain and gale force winds to Mt. Isa and surrounding regions.

This post has been edited by SquallStrife: Feb 3 2011, 08:52 PM

[Jeruselem]

Christ, Bowen is about to cop the brunt of TC Anthony pretty soon.

Tasi (aka Cyclone 11P) seems heading for Cairns.
http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/...ings/sh1111.gif

This post has been edited by Jeruselem: Jan 30 2011, 09:32 PM

[eveln]

ATM it's a balmy night at about 27c. no wind, all round a very nice evening...though I'm up just past Port Douglas :)

it's a whole four days before Thursday ! I feel sorry for those small Islands though, that would be scary.

[robzy]

My parents are meant to be heading up to Hamilton Island this week... :S

Rob.

[eveln]

My parents are meant to be heading up to Hamilton Island this week... :S

Rob.

Might be good to postpone the trip...

[robzy]

My parents are meant to be heading up to Hamilton Island this week... :S

Rob.

Might be good to postpone the trip...

Wow, yeah, I might throw my 2c (which echo those sentiments) into the bucket.

Btw SquallStrife, thanks for a well-written and informative OP, with source hyperlinks to boot. This reader, at least, appreciated it :P

Rob.

[fatal-error]

My sister is in Airlie Beach ( bout 50km's south of Bowen) and she said the house was reaaally swaying hard! (its on stilts)

If Yasi comes their way... they are packing up and GTFO!

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html

[Elfarch]

My sister is in Airlie Beach ( bout 50km's south of Bowen) and she said the house was reaaally swaying hard! (its on stilts)
If Yasi comes their way... they are packing up and GTFO!

Smart sister. Especially if it hits Cat 5.

Trouble is Yasi is so bloody big they may have to start real early to get away.

This post has been edited by Elfarch: Jan 31 2011, 12:13 PM

[SquallStrife]

OP Updated. Information on TC Yasi is now available through the BOM.

[Jeruselem]

Looks like another Cyclone Larry ... :(

[Jeruselem]

If one lives in Cairns, time to leave!
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/flood...e-1225997552623

[Hoonbernator]

Yeah, this puppy is gonna be epic.

Such a large system will penetrate far inland whilst staying strong - Mt Isa lookout.

When the official government stance is GTFO, you know what to do... Good luck all, I hope noone loses their shit or gets hurt!

[Redhatter]

This is just what Queensland needed, on top of floods!

[DEVERE]

This is just what Queensland needed, on top of floods!

Was just thinking the same thing - me thinks mother nature is seriously pissed off with something :( Stay safe everyone.

[theflyingswan]

yeah its a monster for sure.....not looking forward to tomorrow evening at all O_o

Stay safe all.

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[mudg3]

Yep The thing is the size of NSW's the whole QLD east cost will be hugely effected by this.

[SquallStrife]

OP Updated. Severe TC Yasi is now a category 4 system.

Wind gusts are estimated to be at 230 km/h and intensifying. As such, this system is now roughly as powerful than Severe TC Larry in 2006.

[eveln]

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I feel for the guys lower down the coast. ATM it's a warm, calm evening, though we are supposed to have big winds here tomorrow morning.
Have issued a no travelling for the area tomorrow also...so no work for the next few days.
A king tide is also due tomorrow night, so things will be interesting to say the least. The tidal surge has thankfully been downgraded from the proposed 4 metres to a bit over 2metres...

[Redhatter]

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR411.loop.shtml will probably show it in the next 12 hours or so.

[ArcaneMagik]

Didn't know about this guys YouTube, but much better than tv information.