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Everyone had been watching Cyclone Yasi approach the North Queensland coast for days since the system formed over near Fiji. It had tracking south to south-west and the model suggested that it was heading towards Cairns and Innisfail. On the morning of February 2nd 2011 authorities upgraded Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi to a Category 5 storm. Those residents who decided to stay and ride out Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi were warned that they were about to experience the most terrifying 24 hours of their lives. It proved to be the largest and most powerful cyclone to hit Queensland in living memory. Tropical Cyclones are low pressure systems. They are not associated with a front but are formed over warm tropical waters and have gale force winds. These winds can extend hundreds of kilometers from the center of the storm. Once these winds hit 118 kilometers per hour the cyclone is classified as a severe tropical cyclone. The center of the storm is known as the eye and is characterized by light winds and clear skies. It is surrounded by a wall of dense cloud about 16 km high. This marks the area of the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall. At 0600 hours on Wednesday February 2 2011 the word went out across the airways that Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi had been upgraded to a Category 5 cyclone. A Category 5 storm is characterized by winds in excess of 280 kilometers per hour and described as dangerous. The chances of this storm causing widespread destruction were excellent. This cyclone had a diameter of six hundred kilometers and the eye was estimated to be more than thirty kilometers wide. At this time the authorities warned the public to expect a storm of catastrophic proportions. It was forecast to hit in the most highly populated part of tropical North Queensland Australia on the early morning of February 3rd. Within five hours of hitting the coast, the storm was downgraded to a Category 3 system. It proceeded inland North Queensland where it weakened to a tropical depression. Thousands of people were made homeless and many lost everything. Roads, schools and airports were closed. Food shortages, water supply and sewerage were a major concern. 180,000 people were left without electricity. There was no telecommunication coverage as towers had been disabled. The military together with emergency service volunteers were deployed to the area to assist with the cleanup. The place looked like a bomb had hit it. One can only guess at the damage bill and the number of lives disrupted by this powerful freak of nature. You are welcome to visit other articles of interest at Church Buildings For Sale, Commercial Buildings For Sale and Abandoned Buildings For Sale.
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