Some of you may...

jeffro503
Posts
27635
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR, USA
2/1/2011 10:08pm
Well loose....if you are still able to post some updates for us tomorrow morning , I'll be here reading them. I hope you and your family stay safe man. Please keep us updated if you can! And for Gods sake , take shelter wherever you can. I'm still in complete awe of this right now.
ando
Posts
4490
Joined
8/20/2009
Location
Perth, AU
2/1/2011 10:18pm
I'm fortunate I live on the other side of the country, although I have family on the outer edges of the affected areas.

Although it's no consolation to those that actually live in the area like MCFan, but for those in the US (or elsewhere) who are not familiar with the country, one saving grace is that this part of Australia (like most of it actually) is fairly sparsely populated. Queensland is about three times the size of Texas in area, but the total population in the affected area is probably less than 300,000.
ando
Posts
4490
Joined
8/20/2009
Location
Perth, AU
2/1/2011 10:21pm Edited Date/Time 2/1/2011 10:22pm
flarider wrote:
Not discounting the situation, but big wide storms aren't usually as destructive as smaller well defined storms. See on Tracy how well defined it is and...
Not discounting the situation, but big wide storms aren't usually as destructive as smaller well defined storms.



See on Tracy how well defined it is and how clear and defined the eye is? THAT is scary. That is the sign of a very strong central low pressure and an unhindered surrounding atmosphere...a very strong storm.



This is Hurricane Andrew







That was not a very wide storm, but it was the most powerful and destructive.

Katrina was destructive only because the POS dike system around New Orleans failed, but the storm itself was not wildly super-strong. It had power, don't get me wrong.



Yasi is big, wide and scary looking, but as long as it keeps a bit disorganized, the power stays lower. Let's hope it stays that way. If it wraps up tighter and the eye gets more defined, then be super worried.

Hurricanes suck and I have been through too many, including Andrew.

(I lived in North Miami at the time, that's the area between the eye wall at the top and the line above it.)



Be careful and keep your head down
For reference, the central pressure at Yasi is currently 922 hPa (mbars), same as Andrew, so she has power to go with her size.
jeffro503
Posts
27635
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR, USA
2/1/2011 10:24pm
I just thought of something. A tornado has a classification of F1 through F5. if this thing hits your shores at about 207mph.....that is the same speed as an F4 tornado.

The bad news is.....this thing is 1000 times bigger than any friggin' tornado!

An F4 will just about level anything in it's path. I don't think some people are realizing exactly what is coming their way. I think if some people think they are going to just ride it out in their homes , they might not be here tomorrow. this is some seriously scary shit going on!

Tornado F classifications :

* F-0 40-72 mph, Light damage, chimney damage, tree branches broken

* F-1 73-112 mph, Moderate damage, mobile homes pushed off foundation or flipped over

* F-2 113-157 mph, Considerable damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted

* F-3 158-205 mph, Severe damage, roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown around

* F-4 207-260 mph, Devastating damage, well-constructed walls leveled

* F-5 261-318 mph, Violent damage, homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as 100 meters.

The Shop

ando
Posts
4490
Joined
8/20/2009
Location
Perth, AU
2/1/2011 10:33pm Edited Date/Time 2/1/2011 10:34pm
Tropical Cyclone Category System
CATEGORY 1 (tropical cyclone)
Negligible house damage. Damage to some crops, trees and caravans. Craft may drag moorings.
A Category 1 cyclone's strongest winds are GALES with typical gusts over open flat land of 90 - 125 km/h.
These winds correspond to Beaufort 8 and 9 (Gales and strong gales).
CATEGORY 2 (tropical cyclone)
Minor house damage. Significant damage to signs, trees and caravans. Heavy damage to some crops. Risk of power failure. Small craft may break moorings.
A Category 2 cyclone's strongest winds are DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 125 - 164 km/h. These winds correspond to Beaufort 10 and 11 (Storm and violent storm).
CATEGORY 3 (severe tropical cyclone)
Some roof and structural damage. Some caravans destroyed. Power failures likely.
A Category 3 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 165 - 224 km/h.
These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Hurricane).
CATEGORY 4 (severe tropical cyclone)
Significant roofing loss and structural damage. Many caravans destroyed and blown away. Dangerous airborne debris. Widespread power failures.
A Category 4 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 225 - 279 km/h.
These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Hurricane).
CATEGORY 5 (severe tropical cyclone)
Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction.
A Category 5 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of more than 280 km/h.
These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Hurricane).

Cat 3 = US Hurricane Cat 1

Cat 4 = US Hurricance Cat 2-3

Cat 5 = US Hurricane Cat 4-5

Also US uses 1 minute wind averages while the rest of the world uses 10 minute averages so US wind speed readings are generally a little higher.
Loose
Posts
901
Joined
9/12/2007
Location
Mackay, AU
2/1/2011 10:51pm
Your video will play following this advertisement
Play0:00 / 2:14ScrubbermuteScrubber
ShareFullscreen.
Premier Bligh says all measuring equipment has been wiped out from the weather measuring station on Willis Island off Australian's far north coast.

Wind gusts have already begun in the north and taken out several trees in the Burdekin.

Dangerous ocean swells will soon be experience all the way from Cairns to the Sunshine Coast.

The areas to the west of Townsville and Cairns are also being warned to prepare for devastating winds.

``This event will affect them and give cyclonic conditions,'' Ms Bligh said.

Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart said Cardwell is expecting a storm surge of 6.5m to 7m above the normal high tide.

"For people who know where the highest tide level is, they can expect storm surge up to 7m above that," he said.



Meteorologists expect the impact of Cyclone Yasi to be "more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations."

Senior bureau forecaster Gordon Banks told the ABC Yasi could take at least 24 hours to weaken after it makes landfall.

"There's still potential for it to become stronger ... as a strong category five we could see wind gusts in excess of 320km/h, which is just horrific," he said.

Premier Bligh says the expected arrival of Yasi on a high tide is the worst possible news.
MCfan4life
Posts
5731
Joined
6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
2/1/2011 10:52pm
If you look at a picture of a map already posted you will see that it is expected to hit just south of Innisfail.

Unfortunately this is the same town that was directly hit by Cyclone Larry only 5 years ago. And, even more unfortunately, Yasi is 5 times the diamater of Larry!!!

These images are from Larry 5 years ago:





Banana plantation











I really really am not looking forward to seeing the aftermath of Yasi. Scary stuff...


ogdeno
Posts
316
Joined
8/27/2009
Location
Sydney, AU
2/1/2011 11:12pm
Take care people up there. Don't do anything crazy like the woman I just heard on the radio who, when asked what preparation she'd done she said "yeah well I put some mattresses against the doors!"
Loose
Posts
901
Joined
9/12/2007
Location
Mackay, AU
2/2/2011 12:28am
MC look after yourself and your family dude
2/2/2011 1:21am Edited Date/Time 2/2/2011 1:24am
Here's a link to a video that will give you some idea of what's instore and how people are feeling



Video link of preparations

MCfan4life
Posts
5731
Joined
6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
2/2/2011 1:27am
Loose wrote:
MC look after yourself and your family dude
Thanks man will do. We've done all we can to prepare. Only a couple hrs to go... Unsure
jeffro503
Posts
27635
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR, USA
2/2/2011 1:46am
Well....it's almost 2:00am here , and I have to go to bed. I wish you guys the best down there! Please stay safe , and hope to see you guys post some info on what's going on.
2/2/2011 1:54am
jeffro503 wrote:
Well....it's almost 2:00am here , and I have to go to bed. I wish you guys the best down there! Please stay safe , and hope...
Well....it's almost 2:00am here , and I have to go to bed. I wish you guys the best down there! Please stay safe , and hope to see you guys post some info on what's going on.
Typical. It's always the Australians the last ones at a party! Jokes, just jokes. I won't sleep well tonight just thinking of FNQers. Good luck again guys.
MCfan4life
Posts
5731
Joined
6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
2/2/2011 1:57am
8pm here in not so sunny Qld. Yasi is about 180klms off the coast. Expected to hit approx. midnight.
Whitey
Posts
2384
Joined
2/15/2008
Location
Perth, AU
2/2/2011 3:20am
It has started to hit now, already damage starting and the eye is still 3 hours away, long night ahead for the Nth Queenslanders, hang in there.
MCfan4life
Posts
5731
Joined
6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
2/2/2011 3:56am
Whitey wrote:
It has started to hit now, already damage starting and the eye is still 3 hours away, long night ahead for the Nth Queenslanders, hang in...
It has started to hit now, already damage starting and the eye is still 3 hours away, long night ahead for the Nth Queenslanders, hang in there.
Yeah sorry Whitey I was referring to the eye of the storm when I said it was due to hit around midnight. Should have explained myself better.

I'm about 500klms from where it is expected to hit near Innisfail so, fingers crossed, we will only get wind and rain.

It is quite eerie at the moment though. You know the saying "the calm before the storm", well that's what it's like right now (10pm). It is very dark and very calm at the moment. No rain, no wind, no stars in the sky, no moon, just the sound of crickets...

But the eerie part is that very soon it's about to get a whole lot different.

Here is an update from the Qld Premier (Governor) about 30 mins ago:

Cyclone Yasi is slowing as it approaches the north Queensland coast, and its destructive winds may sit for longer over affected communities, the premier says.

Anna Bligh says news that category five Yasi's progress had slowed to 25km/h is good and bad.

She said it meant storm surges would likely be lower as its landfall would be further away from the high tide, which occurred in the region at 9pm (AEST).

But the wind damage would likely be greater.

"It (the slowing) means storm surges would be further away from the high tide and lower than current predictions.

"In terms of flooding and inundation and storm surges that would be a big thing.

"However if it's crossing the coast at a slower rate, sitting over towns and communities for longer and bringing those destructive winds to those communities for a longer period of time, it will cause more destruction from winds."
Whitey
Posts
2384
Joined
2/15/2008
Location
Perth, AU
2/2/2011 4:12am Edited Date/Time 2/2/2011 4:14am
MC, i wasnt refering to anybody, i was just making a broad statement that she was under way.

I am watching it on Sky News, definately set in now.

145km ese of cairns, traveling at 25 kmh

I couldnt believe some people had phoned in to get evacuated, i think they should have done that when they had the chance, cops are saying no way, you are too late, bunker yourself in and we will see how things are in 24 hours.

18 Metre waves off of Townsville
MCfan4life
Posts
5731
Joined
6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
2/2/2011 4:15am
Check out the BOM radar site

http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/radar/

and click on Cairns, Townsville, Bowen or Mackay. It's pretty wild.

I'm watching the weather channel but I think I'll change to the news as these jokers just keep on re-playing shit over and over
Whitey
Posts
2384
Joined
2/15/2008
Location
Perth, AU
2/2/2011 4:19am
Obviously due to the conditions the reporters keep dropping out. .....
MCfan4life
Posts
5731
Joined
6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
2/2/2011 4:28am
Whitey wrote:
Obviously due to the conditions the reporters keep dropping out. .....
Reports or reporters???

Reporters might be getting blown away!
Whitey
Posts
2384
Joined
2/15/2008
Location
Perth, AU
2/2/2011 4:32am
The reporters aren't getting blown away but their equipment is cutting in and out.
2/2/2011 4:42am
news.com.au

Check the blog at the bottom of this page for live updates. people and media tweets from right in the middle of this shit and it's starting to come on the pipe right now.
flarider
Posts
25496
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Daytona Beach, FL, USA
2/2/2011 5:39am
The radar out of Cairns is gnarly
Big (HUGE) perfectly symmetrical eye wall, very very bad.
Making landfall now (8:37am ET) at Birgil Bay

That is really bad

You guys on the outer rings, it shouldn't be too bad, but inner rings and near the eyewall, you're screwed

If this thing is down around the low 900's, that's really bad
MCfan4life
Posts
5731
Joined
6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
2/2/2011 6:19am
flarider wrote:
Australian Red Cross, if you want to make a donation
Sure they could use (or will need) it

http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp


Thanks Dave that was very cool of you.

The eye hit the coast about 15 mins ago and they say it should be 'calm' for the next hour and then all hell will break loose. It's 12.20am so I'm off too bed with all my Nth Qld mates in my thoughts. Hopefully we will all be safe and well in the morning.
KAWboy14
Posts
6502
Joined
12/31/2007
Location
Austin, TX, USA
2/2/2011 6:56am
so now your saying god is mad at the aussys?...............
jeffro503
Posts
27635
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR, USA
2/2/2011 10:01am
Any more news coming in?
TannerMxer
Posts
1496
Joined
1/5/2010
Location
Ventura, CA, USA
2/2/2011 10:41am
Yes, the smaller the storm and more defined eye is big trouble. Don't get me wrong, I hope everyone is safe and gets out of there but the larger eye will help alleviate some of the destruction. The storm will strongest on the west side (since it is in the southern hemisphere I believe) so those winds will be the strongest. The storm surge is the biggest killer of all tornados/cyclones so get those beaches evacuated.

Be safe and stay strong friends from down under.
MBBadgers
Posts
1173
Joined
10/6/2010
Location
Madison, WI, USA
2/2/2011 12:11pm
On the plus side it's been downgraded to a Cat3, hope you all are ok.

Post a reply to: Some of you may...

The Latest