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The last radar image from Willis Island added below. The last radar image is truly striking.
Also, see below for the differences between the Australia hurricane scale and the familiar Saffir-Simpson scale used in the USA. They are not equal.
From Australia’s BoM, time to “get outta Dodge” as they say:
SEVERE TC YASI IS A LARGE AND VERY POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES 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.
DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/hr that are currently developing on coastal islands, are forecast to develop about the coast by late morning and about the tropical interior overnight.
Between Cape Tribulation and Ingham these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in excess of 125km/hr during the afternoon
and early evening and VERY DESTRUCTIVE with gusts up to 300 km/hr between Cairns and Ingham during the evening as the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast. These VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds can also occur on the seaward side of hills to the north of the cyclone and are also forecast to reach the Atherton Tablelands.
TOP PRIORITY TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 14 Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane Issued at 1:53pm EST on Wednesday the 2nd of February 2011 A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal and island communities from Cape Flattery to Sarina, extending inland to Julia Creek and to the area west of Croydon. A Cyclone WATCH is current for the remaining inland parts west to the Northern Territory border and north of Winton. The Cyclone WARNING from Cape Melville to Cape Flattery has been cancelled. At 1:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 5 was estimated to be 345 kilometres east of Cairns and 360 kilometres northeast of Townsville and moving west southwest at 35 kilometres per hour. SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE YASI IS A LARGE AND VERY POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY WITHIN THE WARNING AREA, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN CAIRNS AND TOWNSVILLE. DURING THE EVENING, THE VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE OF CYCLONE YASI WILL CROSS THE COAST BETWEEN CAIRNS AND INGHAM, ACCOMPANIED BY A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE SOUTH OF THE CYCLONE CENTRE. Tropical Cyclone Yasi, CATEGORY 5, will continue to move in a west-southwesterly direction. The cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Innisfail and Cardwell close to midnight. Coastal residents within the warning area, and particularly between Cairns and Proserpine including the Whitsundays, are specifically warned of an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SEA LEVEL RISE [i.e. storm tide] as the cyclone approaches, crosses the coast and moves inland. The sea is likely to steadily rise up to a level which will be VERY DANGEROUSLY above the normal tide, with EXTREMELY DAMAGING WAVES, STRONG CURRENTS and FLOODING of low-lying areas extending some way inland. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible, and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area if advised to do so by authorities. DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/hr are currently affecting the coast and islands, and are forecast to spread into the tropical interior overnight and west to Julia Creek during Thursday. Between Port Douglas and Ayr these winds will become DESTRUCTIVE with gusts in excess of 125 km/hr developing during this afternoon and early evening, spreading into the tropical interior overnight. VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts up to 290 km/hr are expected to develop between Cairns and Ingham during the evening as the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast. These VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds will also occur on the seaward side of hills to the north of the cyclone and also affect the Atherton Tablelands. Due to the large size of the cyclone, people in the path of the VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS are likely to experience these conditions for about 3 to 4 hours. Winds are forecast to gradually ease about the east coast during Thursday morning as the cyclone moves inland. FLOODING RAINS will develop from Cooktown to Sarina during the afternoon and then extend inland overnight. People between Cape Flattery and Sarina, extending inland to Julia Creek and to the area west of Croydon should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place. - Boats and outside property should be secured. - For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au] - For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on 132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage]. People about the remaining inland parts west to the Northern Territory border and north of Winton should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases. - Information is available from your local government - For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster Management Services website [www.disaster.qld.gov.au] - For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on 132 500 [for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage]. Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi at 1:00 pm EST: .Centre located near...... 16.8 degrees South 149.0 degrees East .Location accuracy........ within 30 kilometres .Recent movement.......... towards the west southwest at 35 kilometres per hour .Wind gusts near centre... 290 kilometres per hour .Severity category........ 5 .Central pressure......... 930 hectoPascals Please ensure that neighbours have heard and understood this message, particularly new arrivals or those who may not fully understand English.
source
GALE WARNING 113 This affects ocean area: SUBTROPIC Tropical Cyclone ZAKA [987hPa] centre was located near 29.0 South 179.5 West at 070600 UTC. Position Fair. Repeat position 29.0S 179.5W at 070600 UTC. Cyclone is moving southsouthwest 20 knots. Expect sustained winds of 45 knots close to the centre easing to 40 knots by 071800 UTC and then easing to 35 knots by 080600 UTC. Expect winds over 33 knots within 120 nautical miles of centre in the sector from north through east to west and within 60 nautical miles of centre in the northwest quadrant. Forecast position near 32.8S 178.9E at 071800 UTC and near 37.0S 179.7E at 080600 UTC. This warning cancels and replaces warning 103. Issued at 8:07pm Monday 7 February 2011
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 10 Issued at 2:50 pm WST on Thursday 17 February 2011 A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Exmouth to Coral Bay. A Cyclone WATCH is current for coastal areas from Onslow to Exmouth and Coral Bay to Overlander Roadhouse, including Carnarvon and Denham, including Carnarvon and Denham. At 2:00 pm WST Tropical Cyclone Dianne, Category 2 was estimated to be 415 kilometres northwest of Exmouth and 670 kilometres north northwest of Carnarvon and is near stationary. Tropical Cyclone Dianne remains near stationary well off the northwest coast. Diane is expected to drift slowly south overnight tonight and during Friday. If it moves closer to the coast GALES with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour may develop in coastal areas between Exmouth and Coral Bay on Friday, extending south to Overlander Roadhouse during Saturday. If Diane takes a more south easterly track DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour may occur between Coral Bay and Overlander Roadhouse on Saturday. Tides along the entire west coast will be higher than normal over the next few days. Tides between Onslow and Shark Bay are likely to exceed the high water mark with flooding of low lying coastal areas possible. A Flood Warning is current for the Gascoyne, Murchison and Greenough Rivers and a Flood Watch is current for the Irwin River. Flooding is also expected in other areas of Western Australia. Please refer to the full list of Flood Watches and Warnings at www.bom.gov.au FESA State Emergency Service (SES) advises of the following community alerts: BLUE ALERT: People in or near Exmouth and Coral Bay need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water. Other communities between Onslow and Overlander Roadhouse, including Carnarvon and Denham should listen for the next advice. Details of Tropical Cyclone Dianne at 2:00 pm WST: .Centre located near...... 19.2 degrees South 111.4 degrees East .Location accuracy........ within 55 kilometres .Recent movement.......... near stationary .Wind gusts near centre... 130 kilometres per hour and INTENSIFYING .Severity category........ 2 .Central pressure......... 978 hectoPascals The next advice will be issued by 6:00 pm WST Thursday 17 February.
It is not officially the Atlantic Hurricane Season yet, however TheWeatherSpace.com is monitoring a disturbance in the Southern Caribbean this week and into next week.
"It is early to tell but ongoing thunderstorm activity associated with a tropical wave developing down there will drift northward through Cuba this and next week toward Florida", said TheWeatherSpace Senior Meteorologist Kevin Martin. "The weak ridging in the southeast may promote development into something stronger over the next week".
Should Martin be correct, Florida will need to keep an eye on future updates out of TheWeatherSpace.com.