Cyclone Yasi

[MatF]

Willis Island radar is gone:

 

[serfty]

Willis Island radar is gone:...

Yup, last image was UTC22:00 - showing Yasi centred about 50km away.

 

[Nigelinoz]

This is truly terrifying,I'm nowhere near Cairns thank goodness but I have close friends who moved there from Melbourne last year and I am very concerned for them,I had an email from them a few minutes ago,they are safe at the moment but things are certainly going to be very nasty.
I hope and prey that they will be ok.
My thoughts are also with any AFF members in the region-take care.
Regards
N'oz

 

[MatF]

Listening to the police radio feed linked earlier, it sounds like the evac centres are all already full.

Some scary stuff happening up there already - two police were just talking about a family with a child in a unit on the esplanade that are totally unprepared, haven't taped windows, no preparation, no means of transport to evacuate, etc.

 

[ChrisBNE]

My family is stuck up there, and the irony is they flew up from SYD this afternoon at 1:25 pm, and nobody told them better not to go. At SYD they didn't had contact with anyone thanks to the new staff-free check-in, and as tourists which only speak little English they didn't bother too much about watching news on the TVs inside the terminal. We all were aware of the cyclone coming up so had the latest news from the morning in mind which were not much worrying anyone, but not expected such a disaster.

When they arrived at CNS 3 hrs later it was all too late, no return flights available today, only got them on a 4:15 pm to SYD for tomorrow, which now will not take place as well.

Now they are in the Shangri-La and wait for hourly updates what to do. This really worries me...

Listening to the police radio feed linked earlier, it sounds like the evac centres are all already full.

Some scary stuff happening up there already - two police were just talking about a family with a child in a unit on the esplanade that are totally unprepared, haven't taped windows, no preparation, no means of transport to evacuate, etc.

Shangri-Las was designed to withsatnd Cat 5s. The Ballroom is designed to be an evac center appraently. Not sure on the concept of the storm surge, that's a different kettle of fish.

 

[medhead]

Given the question marks over the stability of the The Pier when it was first taken back from the sea, I wouldn't stay there regardless of the design.

 

[jsoprano]

Just had a call from my partner who is in the Shangri La, the hotel is getting full now as all the camera teams have checked in to seek shelter there. I take this as a rather positive sign.

They reckon the ballroom is min. 7 metres above sea level, so they shouldn't get wet feet in there. Anyhow, wait and see and pray for everyone up there in the North is all we can do now.

 

[medhead]

Frankly, given that the camera teams actually flew into the path of a cat 5 cyclone I wouldn't be happy to copy their example.

 

[NM]

Just had a call from my partner who is in the Shangri La, the hotel is getting full now as all the camera teams have checked in to seek shelter there. I take this as a rather positive sign.

News media camera crews generally want to be in the middle of the action so they can get good footage of the devastation. I would prefer to be somewhere the media crews find "boring" and "nothing to see here". Maybe I am getting too old for this type of excitement.

 

[nlagalle]

My friend just send me this link:

http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR412-willis-island/2011-02-01-04/2011-02-02-04

 

[serfty]

My friend just send me this link:

http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR412-willis-island/2011-02-01-04/2011-02-02-04

TheWeatherChaser site automatically archives images from Meteorology web sites.

Note the animation ceases after UTC22:00.

 

[dfcatch]

I tried very hard to talk the folks into getting on DJ to AKL last night but they insisted on staying.

They're all masking taped up, have plenty of food and water and batteries and should be just high enough for anything up to a 6 meter surge.

Not sure if my car will still be there when I get back though .

I'm assuming that some/all of my stuff will be damaged/wet. But that's what insurance is for. I have my data with me here in LOTFAP - that's my DR plan

 

[parsonstrish]

cyclone yarsi

all the best to my fellow north queenslanders awaiting the 'hit'. hoping all come through safely.
trish

 

[markis10]

CNS radar is starting to get interesting, its almost like Larry Part 2 in terms of the track, best wishes to all in FNQ.

 

[MatF]

My wife has an aunt and uncle in Cardwell. Don't know if they've evacuated or not, but hope they'll be alright.

 

[KLN]

good luck to all you FNQ"s

 

[nlagalle]

Spoke to a friend in Townsville today and asked him if everything was prepped.

His answer was:

Yep all ready. cyclone Kit = Generator and 40oz bottle of Rum!

He reckons he'll be right for a day or so - until the rum runs out!!

 

[parsonstrish]

Now 11:15pm qld. time, listening to abc radio, interviews with folk being effected by the cyclone, main response is 'scary'. There was just an interview with bob katter, jr. and said he's been through alot of cyclones but he's scared. Another main response is the noise plus the scareyness of houses shaking.
I've just taken melatonin, hoping it kicks in soon, I just want to sleep and wake up and it's all over.

 

[dot]

Current BoM Radar image looks pretty worrying - 512 km composite Cairns Radar Loop

 

[Sprucegoose]

Now a cat 3. Have friends at Tully. Apparently the worst hit. Their prep was better this time.

Time will tell