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perceptions_now

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Cyclone Yasi
Feb 1^st, 2011 at 3:51pm

Patients evacuated from Cairns hospitals as 'potentially deadly' Cyclone Yasi approaches

THE RAAF will mount an emergency airlift from Cairns of 205 hospital patients, some of them critically ill, as thousands flee low-lying coastal areas of north Queensland threatened by Cyclone Yasi.

The patients will be flown to Brisbane tonight aboard medivac-equipped air force Hercules planes, in a dramatic escalation of the emergency ahead of the expected impact early on Thursday of the monster category four cyclone.

Thousands of people were today also fleeing the expected impact zone of the “potentially deadly” Cyclone Yasi, most heading south or west.

Premier Anna Bligh warned that people had to be sensible in the face of “the display of awesome power” of the approaching cyclone, which is packing winds of 250km/h.

Disaster coordinator Ian Stewart said police and emergency crews were doorknocking vulnerable areas in the cyclone path's and asking people to voluntarily relocate. But mandatory evacuations would be enforced if that became necessary, he said.

Link -
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/cyclone-yasi/evacuations-begin-ahead-of...
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For those who don't know Cairns, it is a large population centre, which is also very low lying and could be very suspectible to Flooding, particularly at high tide!

As can be seen from the above photos, it is very low lying and it is very exposed, particularly if the cyclone arrives at high tide.

And, much Holiday accommodation & the CBD are situated very adjacent to the seashore.

That said, even if Yasi does not impact Cairns directly, it will still pose a major threat to Cairns and surrounding towns, because of the size of the cyclone.

There are many medium size towns in the area and it would just not be feasible to evacuate everyone, in the wider Cairns area.

So, those who are staying, prepare and bunker down in the safest place you can find!

Whilst it seems likely there will be property damage, if we take a lead from the likely size & strength of the cyclone, we hope that you will all be safe!

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Ex Dame Pansi Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 24168	Re: Cyclone Yasi Reply #1 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:14pm It's a biggy perceptions. The eye of the cyclone is 100km wide, the whole width is 500km, that covers a lot of towns. They're are not setting up evacuation centres until after the cyclone hits, just too many people to handle. Best of luck Cairns people!!!!
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Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Cyclone Yasi Reply #2 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:32pm Why are they called cyclones and not hurricanes - out of interest? I've been in a hurricane before but not a cyclone. I presume they are the same thing?
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Life_goes_on

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #3 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 5:09pm

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:32pm:

Why are they called cyclones and not hurricanes - out of interest?

I've been in a hurricane before but not a cyclone. I presume they are the same thing?

It's more the other way, "why are they called hurricanes and not cyclones".

In the study of meteorology the term "cyclone" is the correct one - you won't find much mention of a hurricane other than to clear up the peculiarities of regional terminology. This still holds true in the US where the popular term for a cyclone is "hurricane".

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philperth2010

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #4 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:09pm

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:32pm:

Why are they called cyclones and not hurricanes - out of interest?

I've been in a hurricane before but not a cyclone. I presume they are the same thing?

The name of the storm system varies according to the place of origin of these storms.

Cyclones - Storms are called cyclones if they are formed over the Indian Ocean and Southwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Africa and Australia.

Typhoon - Storms are called typhoons if they are formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Asia.

Hurricane - Storms are referred to as hurricanes if formed in Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean i.e., near Gulf of Mexico and America.

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If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
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mellie

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #5 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:22pm

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:14pm:

It's a biggy perceptions. The eye of the cyclone is 100km wide, the whole width is 500km, that covers a lot of towns. They're are not setting up evacuation centres until after the cyclone hits, just too many people to handle.

Best of luck Cairns people!!!!

Do you guys think it will be bigger than cyclone Tracy in Darwin?

We are about due for another one of these.

100k wide?

Massive!!! Shocked

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Ex Dame Pansi

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #6 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:35pm

mellie wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:22pm:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:14pm:

It's a biggy perceptions. The eye of the cyclone is 100km wide, the whole width is 500km, that covers a lot of towns. They're are not setting up evacuation centres until after the cyclone hits, just too many people to handle.

Best of luck Cairns people!!!!

Do you guys think it will be bigger than cyclone Tracy in Darwin?

We are about due for another one of these.

100k wide?

Massive!!! Shocked

500km wide mellie, the eye is 100km.... I would be far away from there by now, but I suppose not everyone can leave. Tracey was a cat 5 the biggest, this is supposed to be a high rating 4 by the time it hits land.

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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Hendrix
andrei said: Great isn't it? Seeing boatloads of what is nothing more than human garbage turn up.....

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Life_goes_on Gold Member Offline Posts: 4772 400kms south of Yobsville, Qld Gender:	Re: Cyclone Yasi Reply #7 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:43pm Cyclone Tracy was tiny compared to TC Yasi. They are probably of similar intensity (based on current predictions). Darwin then was also tiny in comparison to Cairns now (at a guess Cairns is now about three or four times the size of what Darwin was in 1974).
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nichy

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #8 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 7:38pm

Sorry, I can't paste pictures (have tried & failed), but have a look at this link

http://

www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/02/01/147301_cyclone.html

Yasi is nearly as big as Queensland. I hope and pray that it will lessen in intensity before it reaches land as it looks terrifying - far worse than Larry which wreaked such havoc six years ago.

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mellie

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #9 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 8:00pm

The problem with Tracy was that people were terribly unprepared, this and too laid back (being Xmas)... they didn't take the warnings seriously enough, and some of the newer houses were not really built to sustain cyclonic type winds.

I doubt we'll ever see another Tracy, but if we do, I think people will be more inclined to take the warnings more seriously next time.

If it's a Cat 4, it could downgrade to a 3 before it even crosses the land, and if so... it wont be too much of a problem.

I think after QLD's recent flooding, they are more worried about Cairns being in a gully and yet even more flooding.

Cant blame them. Roll Eyes

My father lives in QLD...and thinks it will more than likely downgrade to a tropical storm (like a 3) and dump on some sparsely populated dust-area, this or just peter back out to sea, hitting a few tiny evacuated islands on the way in or out.

But then, he said that about Cyclone Avue too... Tongue

Anyway, I hope they panic more than either myself or my father....this and get the hell out as a precaution, rather than put their lives at risk.

I wish them well...but I think it will be OK!

It's due to cross the shore at 1 am Thursday morning, I think if it was going to be another Tracy, it would already be a 5 by now...and coral reefs protect shores from tropical storms and Tsunamis..(to a degree also)...another reason why Darwin copped it worse with Tracy, not having much protection!

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« Last Edit: Feb 1^st, 2011 at 8:05pm by mellie »

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perceptions_now

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #10 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 8:39pm

nichy wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 7:38pm:

Sorry, I can't paste pictures (have tried & failed), but have a look at this link

http://

www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/02/01/147301_cyclone.html

Yasi is nearly as big as Queensland. I hope and pray that it will lessen in intensity before it reaches land as it looks terrifying - far worse than Larry which wreaked such havoc six years ago.

nichy,
The web address you provided (the following) is the web address for the whole page of that article.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/02/01/147301_cyclone.html

Were you looking for the following picture?

If so, then you will need to right click on the picture you want and depending on what software you're using, you will then need to -
1) Go to "Properties" in the pop-up box, then copy the URL Address and paste that address in your post.
Then hightlight that URL Address and hit then insert image Icon, which is third from the left, top right.
2) Click onto "Copy Image Location" in the pop-up box, then paste that URL address in your post.
Then hightlight that URL Address and hit then insert image Icon, which is third from the left, top right.

I hope that makes sense?

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perceptions_now

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #11 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 8:55pm

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:09pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:32pm:

Why are they called cyclones and not hurricanes - out of interest?

I've been in a hurricane before but not a cyclone. I presume they are the same thing?

The name of the storm system varies according to the place of origin of these storms.

Cyclones - Storms are called cyclones if they are formed over the Indian Ocean and Southwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Africa and Australia.

Typhoon - Storms are called typhoons if they are formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Asia.

Hurricane - Storms are referred to as hurricanes if formed in Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean i.e., near Gulf of Mexico and America.

Phil is correct!

Another difference, is that Cyclones rotate clockwise in the Southern hemisphere, whilst Hurricanes rotate anti-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere.

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Life_goes_on

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #12 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 9:12pm

perceptions_now wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 8:55pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 6:09pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 1^st, 2011 at 4:32pm:

Why are they called cyclones and not hurricanes - out of interest?

I've been in a hurricane before but not a cyclone. I presume they are the same thing?

The name of the storm system varies according to the place of origin of these storms.

Cyclones - Storms are called cyclones if they are formed over the Indian Ocean and Southwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Africa and Australia.

Typhoon - Storms are called typhoons if they are formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Asia.

Hurricane - Storms are referred to as hurricanes if formed in Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean i.e., near Gulf of Mexico and America.

Phil is correct!

Another difference, is that Cyclones rotate clockwise in the Southern hemisphere, whilst Hurricanes rotate anti-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere.

No. They are all cyclones - whether in the northern or southern hemispheres. Hurricanes and typhoons are still cyclones (technically it doesn't work the other way). "Cyclone" is the scientific term for any circular, rotating storm no matter where it occurs. Hurricane and Typhoon are just regional terms for a cyclone - not actual scientific terms.

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"You're just one lucky motherf-cker" - Someone, 5th February 2013

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perceptions_now

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #13 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 9:12pm

Evacuation info hotline 1300 993 191

UPDATE 8.50pm: A CYCLONE described as a "monster, killer storm" is bearing down on Cairns, with communities far to the north, south and west of the northern Queensland tourist centre also braced for its fury.

The latest modelling suggests Cyclone Yasi is on track to hit Cairns about 1am (AEST) on Thursday as a highly destructive category four storm with winds above 250km/h.

In Cairns alone, about 29,000 people are on notice of mandatory evacuation. Six evacuation centres have been set up in and around the city to accommodate people who have nowhere to go.

The Australian Defence Force has been called in to evacuate hundreds of patients from two Cairns hospitals.

And residents in low-lying areas have been warned their homes could be damaged with a storm surge of up to two metres expected in parts of Cairns, including the CBD.

The volatile nature of cyclones means there's no guarantee Cairns will be ground zero, but so far it's the Bureau of Meteorology's best guess, and it's where the most serious preparations are being made.

BOM senior forecaster Ann Farrell said Yasi was continuing to intensify and she could not rule out the chance of it reaching category five.

"It is possible it could reach category five intensity, and that would push winds up to around the 300km/h mark," Ms Farrell said.

State disaster management coordinator Ian Stewart said the nature of the threat must not be underestimated.

"Please make no mistake. This storm is a deadly event," he said.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the Australian Defence Force was on alert to respond to any additional requests for support.

"It's devastating for Queenslanders to be facing such a severe cyclone only weeks after the worst floods in the state's history," he said.

Link -
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/queensland-cyclone-yasi/story-e6frf7l6...
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Whilst only time will tell, how high the winds of Yasi will be, it is clearly a cyclone of enormous size & power, so even if the winds are not as great as expected and we certainly hope that is the case, the fact is that Property & People will have to stand up to these winds for much longer!

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Cyclone Yasi
Reply #14 - Feb 1^st, 2011 at 10:34pm

Yasi looms large over tiny Tracy

Cameron Atfield
February 1, 2011 - 9:51PM

Cyclone Yasi's size and power will dwarf Cyclone Tracy, the most devastating storm in Australian history, and could cause even more widespread destruction.

Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said Cyclone Yasi was the largest cyclone he had ever observed in Australian waters on satellite images.

"The area that it's covering is massive and to see it so close to Australia, even 1000 kilometres away, is a bit haunting," he said.

"It's definitely something I've not seen before."

And Yasi made Cyclone Tracy - the storm that destroyed Darwin in 1974 - pale in comparison.

"It's a huge contrast to Tracy. Tracy was a much smaller cyclone, a lot more compact and it just happened to pass directly over a major populated area," Mr Dutschke said.

"[Tracy] was a similar intensity to this one, but Yasi is much larger so it probably only has to get within a few hundred kilometres of a populated area and it could cause similar damage.

"It doesn't have to be as choosy as Tracy with its accuracy."

Mr Dutschke said such a severe cyclone was "always on the cards" during the La Nina weather pattern, because ocean surface temperatures were warmer than normal.

And Cyclone Yasi was so powerful, it could remain a cyclone even after it had reached the outback.

"The more intense they are when they make landfall, the further they need to go [inland] before they are no longer a cyclone," Mr Dutschke said.

"It's probably going to have to go 500 kilometres inland before it's no longer of a cyclone intensity.

"It can effectively be desert that far inland."

Once it reaches landfall, Yasi is expected to follow Cyclone Anthony's lead and head southwest.

Mr Dutschke said the effects of Yasi could be felt as far away as Adelaide.

"It will bring a lot of moisture and there's a reasonable chance for flooding along the Murray [River]," he said.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/yasi-looms-large-over-tiny-t...

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