God hates Queensland: cat 5 cyclone incoming

[Bounty]

Queensland residents have been told it is now too late to escape as the most dangerous storm ever predicted to hit the state makes its approach.

Cyclone Yasi, a category five storm, will make landfall on Wednesday night local time (after 1200 GMT).

State Premier Anna Bligh said those in coastal areas expected to flood should have left their homes already.

The state disaster co-ordinator warned residents they would be on their own for up to 24 hours when Yasi strikes.

"The time for movement and evacuation has now passed," Mrs Bligh said, adding that Yasi would be "the most catastrophic storm to ever hit our coast".

"People should be sheltering wherever they are."

'Roofs may lift off'

The storm is expected to make landfall between the northern city of Cairns - home to some 164,000 people, and popular with tourists - and the rural community of Innisfail, some 100km (60 miles) south.

The eye of the storm alone was reported to be 35km in width, with a front stretching across 650km.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that Cyclone Yasi posed an "extremely serious threat to life and property" within the warning area, especially between Cairns and Townsville.

"This impact is likely to be more life-threatening than any experienced during recent generations," it warned.

More than 10,000 people have already gathered in evacuation centres, and there were reports that those who had not already secured a place were being turned away.

Those remaining in their homes were told to tape up windows, fill sandbags and prepare a "safe room" with mattresses, pillows, a radio, food and water supplies to wait out the cyclone.

They were also encouraged to fill their bathtubs with water for drinking supplies.

'The worse thing is the waiting'

State Disaster Co-ordinator Ian Stewart said it would be more dangerous for people to panic and leave their properties than to stay put once the storm strikes.

"[People] should be preparing themselves for the fact that the roofs of their houses may lift off but that does not make the structure of the house any less sound," he said.

Earlier, police had walked through the streets of Cairns and the northern capital of Townsville, urging people to leave the cities if they could.

Residents frantically bought up supplies to last through what they have been told will be a storm of unprecedented ferocity.

Along the coast residents were warned that a storm surge between two and seven metres was likely to cause widespread flooding, in cities and towns still recovering from intense rains just a few weeks ago.

"We have a mild sense of panic. The worst thing is the waiting," government worker Iony Woolaghan told Agence France Presse from Townsville, where some 10,000 homes are reported to be at risk of flooding.

Thousands of people have already fled their homes close to the coast and the army has flown hospital patients in the northern city of Cairns to Brisbane, which is further south.

More than 400,000 people live in the cyclone's expected path. The area, which includes the Great Barrier Reef, is also popular with tourists.

Cairns airport closed on Wednesday. Rail lines, mines and coal ports have also shut down.

"We're in the process of packing up boxes... the dogs and the pet snake and getting out of here," Melissa Lovejoy, from Cairns, told Australia's ABC news.

She said the family are moving to a friend's house that was further inland.

Let's hope the loss of life stays minimal. It really is a bad year for Australian natural disasters.

[weemadando]

Yeah, we've been talking about it in the Brisbane CBD evac'd thread. It's looking like super-happy-fun-times.

[Keevan_Colton]

Right, so we've got bush fires, floods, cyclones...we just need earthquakes and something for heart and we can safely say that Captain Planet and the Planeteers have it in for australia.

On a more serious note, when was the first warning about this?

[Broomstick]

Well, I heard about the cyclone heading towards Queensland days ago, and I'm literally on the other side of the planet. Maybe last Sunday? Having to evacuate sucks, I know, but it seems the alarm was sounded enough in advance for people to clear out.

I wouldn't wish a storm like that on anyone. Stay safe, everyone. Hope the damage isn't too bad.

[Lusankya]

On a more serious note, when was the first warning about this?

About Monday, though they were mentioning that the tropical depression that became Yasi might become a cyclone on the weekend. Before that, there was no cyclone to warn people about.

And for interest's sake, here's some pictures of the storm system overlaid over various parts of the world.

[tim31]

She's moved inland, coalfields are apparently largely unaffected, but sugar prices are set to spike... Cairns fared okay, but Tully's 90% 'extensive damage' as are most of the nearby communities. Nearly 200,000 homes without electricity. I've heard an anecdotal report of one airline charging $1,100 a seat to get out of Cairns yesterday morning; trying to verify.

[Xon]

First confirmed death discovered after Cyclone Yasi.

The first confirmed fatality of Cyclone Yasi is a man who asphyxiated on fumes spewed out by a generator he was using while sheltering from the devastating storm.

[Bluewolf]

It's a shame and sadly inevitable but in a way it's good that so far, only one person has known to have died. I suspect the body count will slowly go up through the course of these next coming days but it'd be great if it stayed in the single digits.

[weemadando]

Melbourne is having some flooding now. Nothing major but there'll definitely be some traffic accidents and shitload of property damage.

[The_Saint]

And if anyone international was confused, Melbourne's flooding is nearly 2500km from where the cyclone is/was and is unrelated... just more summertime fun in Aus.

[weemadando]

http://twitpic.com/3w989u

Really its not that far from QLD to.Melbourne.

[The_Saint]

Appears someone fails at Queenstown/Queensland.

[Lusankya]

And if anyone international was confused, Melbourne's flooding is nearly 2500km from where the cyclone is/was and is unrelated... just more summertime fun in Aus.

I thought the storm was the result of the far edges of Cyclones Yasi and Anthony teaming up and basically hating on South-Eastern Australia.

[weemadando]

Yeah, it's spin-offs pretty much. Expecting another 10cm+ of rain today apparently. Had the garden and garage flood overnight here, but plenty of other places have had it pretty bad.

Apparently there's a few towns in NW Vic who are having their fifth flood in four months right now.

[tim31]

this video should be called "Funny man is pleased by flooding."

[weemadando]

Last year's Melbourne flooding was nuttier:



Then again, we'll probably get some more of that coming through in the next fortnight as we keep catching the tail of all these weather systems.

[thejester]

I got on a tram to go to Princess Park just as that hit. Hailstones were coming in the windows, so much water going down Spring St we nearly got stuck...slogged half way up Elizabeth St before my old man rang me and told me the game was off. Got home and my bungalow had flooded. Fucking magic.

[The_Saint]

I think NT is the only state so far not to have a major emergency due to natural causes so far this year. Between floods, fires and cyclones and we're only a month into the year.

[Xon]

Perth is doing it's stunningly good impersonation of tinderbox again. It isn't quite at the level that an angry glare causes a fire, but damn it is close.