Cyclone Yasi to hit Australia

bogman

Compares with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, max winds close to 300 km/h in both but no fatalities reported in Yasi TG



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12347702



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12351647

Mayo Exile

Still a visible circulation, but weakening all the time. Could still be a rainmaker though.

fizzycyst

I suppose the fact that Katrina passed over a major city makes a huge difference in the structural damage, and also the huge preparations by the Australian government beforehand was obvious afterwards. Without all the organisation and prior warnings things could have been a lot different to some of the citizens in the small towns where Yasi struck hard.

Mayo Exile

Mayo Exile

According to ABC News Australia, its moving towards Alice Springs now.

Alice Springs feeling effects of Yasi
Posted Fri Feb 4, 2011 7:35pm AEDT


Ex-Tropical Cyclone Yasi approaches Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, almost two days after battering communities in far north Queensland. (Bureau of Meteorology)

Residents have been preparing for the former category five cyclone, with storm clouds now blanketing the town.

About 6:30pm (local time) Yasi was in the eastern Alice Springs district and moving south-west at 18 kilometres per hour.

The Bureau of Meteorology says it is expecting damaging wind gusts of up to 95kph and thunderstorms, with heavy rain and flash flooding tonight.

Emergency services are advising people to secure loose objects, avoid flooded roads and seek shelter as conditions deteriorate.

Mayo Exile

Update from ABC News.

Yasi's wake brings rain to the outback

The Bureau of Meteorology has downgraded its warning of damaging wind gusts for the Alice Springs district, but there is still a flash flooding warning in place for the eastern and southern Alice Springs district.

Meteorologist Mark Kersmakers says the low pressure system is moving slowly towards Uluru and could bring substantial rain to the area sometime tomorrow.

"Even though it is continuing to slowly weaken as it tracks further across the land it should still hold together somewhat during today and tomorrow," he said.

"It could still be a significant system as it moves across that part of the Alice Springs district during tomorrow."

The system is sitting about 200 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs moving slowly in a westerly direction towards Uluru.

NT Emergency Services is expecting the Todd River to flow but does not expect it to break its banks.

The prediction comes as good news for Alice Springs businesses who found many of their strategically placed sandbags had been emptied onto footpaths by vandals overnight.

David Smith, a resident of the remote central Australian community of Ampilatwatja, east of Ti Tree, says the town has had heavy rain overnight.

Some areas of the Barkly region have also received falls of more than 70 millimetres and more rain is expected today and tomorrow.

Mr Smith says if the rain continues there is a good chance the community may be cut off.

"There was ground water on my trip back yesterday. Quite slippery on some parts of the road but I would say that as the water continues the roads will become impassable," he said.

Police say Tennant Creek received 36 millimetres over the past 24 hours and while the Stuart Highway remains open there is water on the road in some places.

They are asking drivers to take care.

Still a discernable structure in the first picture. Not looking so good in the next two.
0600 UTC.

0900 UTC.

1200 UTC.

mel.b

My parents in south-east victoria received almost 100ml of rain the past 24hrs as a result of the remains of cyclones anthony and yasi. Other parts of victoria received that in the space of a copule of hours and one town north west of melbourne is flooding for the third time in five months. Crazy weather!

up for anything

These are interesting links of the flooding etc. Drag your mouse across to picture to reveal either before or after views.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/qld-floods/beforeafter.htm

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/queensland-floods-interactive-before-and-after-photos/story-fn7ik2te-1225987255127

I hope they weren't posted before but haven't got time to check.

Exceptional wet season in Australia this year

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2011/s3183665.htm

There's been so much rain in Wyndham you can drink the seawater

Audio report too