Cat.5 cyclone Yasi makes landfall at Mission Beach,Queensland

LATEST IR IMAGE OF CYCLONE YASI

1432UTC

METD WEATHER

Akshay Deoras

Severe Weather Forecaster

Cyclone Yasi which was a Cat.4 cyclone intensified to a Cat.5 level has made a landfall near the Mission Beach just sometime before writing this post.

(Right and Bottom images of 1332UTC,around an hour before landfall)

Cyclone Yasi's large core remains centered between Cardwell and Innisfail as seen in the satellite imagery.

The Bureau of Meteorology,Australia has made the following update

YASI CROSSED THE COAST NEAR MISSION BEACH DURING THE PAST HOUR WITH THE LARGE DESTRUCTIVE CORE AROUND THE EYE EXTENDING BETWEEN INNISFAIL AND CARDWELL.

Tropical Cyclone Yasi, CATEGORY 5, will weaken only slowly as it continues to move in a west-southwesterly direction towards the Georgetown area during the morning.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WAVES AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL TIDES tides exceeding the high water mark will continue between Cairns and Proserpine until at least the morning high tide.

VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts up to 290 km/h between Cairns and Ingham and the adjacent ranges will extend inland and gradually weaken.

The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of the cyclone will take up to 4 hours to pass.

DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 125 km/h between Cape Tribulation and Ayr will spread inland overnight.

DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 90 km/hr are occurring in remaining coastal areas between Cape Flattery and Proserpine, and are forecast to extend through to Mt Isa during Thursday.

Winds are forecast to gradually ease about the east coast during Thursday morning.

FLOODING RAINS between Port Douglas and Proserpine will gradually extend inland.

People in the path of the very dangerous cyclone should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter, above the expected water level, while the very destructive winds continue.
- Do not venture outside if you find yourself in the eye of the cyclone; very destructive winds from a different direction could resume at any time.
- Follow the evacuation advice or directions of Police, Emergency Services personnel and local authorities.

People in remaining areas between Cape Flattery and Proserpine and extending west across the tropical interior to the Northern Territory border, 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).

Name: Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi

Details:

	Time (EST)	Intensity Category	Latitude (decimal deg.)	Longitude (decimal deg.)	Estimated Position Accuracy (km)
0hr	1 am February 3	5	18.0S	146.0E	20
+6hr	7 am February 3	3	18.6S	144.3E	55
+12hr	1 pm February 3	2	19.3S	142.7E	85
+18hr	7 pm February 3	1	19.9S	141.2E	110
+24hr	1 am February 4	1	20.5S	139.9E	140
+36hr	1 pm February 4	tropical low	21.6S	137.5E	205
+48hr	1 am February 5	tropical low	22.5S	135.8E	260