Sunday, March 19, 2006
SPIN ZONE
Cyclone Larry is headed for far north Queensland. Latest specifications:
Central Pressure : 935 Hectopascals
Location of Centre : within 20 kilometres (12 miles) of latitude 17.6 degrees south, longitude 149.7 degrees east; about 390 kilometres (235 miles) east of Innisfail
Recent Movement : West at 25 kilometres (15 miles) per hour
Destructive winds : out to 120 kilometres (72 miles) from the centre
Maximum wind gusts : 240 kilometres (144 miles) per hour, intensifying
Larry was rated a category two cyclone 13 hours ago, was upgraded to category three about ten hours ago, and is now building towards category five:
Far north Queensland residents in cyclone Larry’s path have been urged to evacuate as authorities compare the violent storm to Hurricane Katrina which devastated United States gulf states last year ...
Disaster co-ordination centres were activated in Cairns and Townsville while the state government deployed response teams from Brisbane, in response to imminent destruction caused by gale force winds, torrential rain and flooding, he said.
"This is the most devastating cyclone that we could potentially see on the east coast of Queensland for decades,” [Counter Disaster and Rescue Services executive director Frank] Pagano told reporters in Brisbane. “There is going to be destruction - we are very certain this cyclone will not peter out.”
Anticipated time of arrival: 7.30am. Interesting detail from reader entropy: “As about 90 percent of bananas in Australia are immediately in its path, this particular fruit is about to get real expensive.”
UPDATE. Cyclone radar here. Slippery Pete reports the gathering of provisions; Frozenbird has been sent south; and Bree notes cyclone party preparations.
UPDATE II. Location as of 10pm (image updated):
Predicted course:
(Via Semaphore Junction)
UPDATE III. Queensland bloggers brace themselves:
* Tanya: “After the supermarket, I went to the bottle shop. Hey, if I’m housebound for the next day or two, I may as well have alcohol keep me company.”
* Stebo: “COME ON LARRY GIVE ME WHAT YOU’VE GOT.”
* Inky Fingers: “It’s just after 9-30pm here..and all is calm. No rain, no wind..no nothing. To anyone who has never experienced a cyclone, I’m sure they are questioning what all the fuss and panic is about.”