# God Speed FNQ (Australia) - Cyclone Yasi **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-speed-fnq-australia-cyclone-yasi/569854 "2011-02-02T03:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-speed-fnq-australia-cyclone-yasi/569854/1 "2011-02-02T03:13:06Z")
> [@](#): > > THE window of opportunity for evacuations is closing fast, as Premier Anna Bligh tells residents they have about three hours to get out before cyclone Yasi starts to pelt the Queensland coast. **The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the storm is “likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations” and predicts winds of up to 320km/h and 2m tidal storm surges.** [http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/north-queensland-braces-for-cyclone-anthony-as-cyclone-yasi-brews-behind-it/story-fn7ik2te-1225998711771](http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/north-queensland-braces-for-cyclone-anthony-as-cyclone-yasi-brews-behind-it/story-fn7ik2te-1225998711771) While many Yanks are stranded by a massive snowstorm, the likelihood their homes will be destroyed by the storm are practically nil. American news is making hay with air travel stopped, roads blocked, and people snow shoveling, again, again, and again. Yes, it’s bad, so to speak. But Queensland has been hit real hard the past month or so with massive floods, just endured a Cat One cyclone last weekend and is now about [to get hit with a massive Cat Five cyclone](http://www.cairns.com.au/cyclone). When I live in Oz I took a $150 Mystery Flight to Cairns and spent three glorious days on the Great Barrier Reef, up into the Daintree and just enjoying paradise. I still remember that little open air restaurant just south of the Daintree road dead end where we dined outside under a canopy and enjoyed a tropical rainstorm. (Of course, the road back to Cairns that night was one cane toad speed bump after another …) This storm is a game changer. What will happen to the reef? Cairns? The Daintree? I have friends in Townsville and [the latest news says a storm surge could inundate 10,000 homes](http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/residents-in-low-lying-parts-of-townsville-urged-to-evacuate-ahead-of-cyclone-yasi/story-e6freoof-1225998365132) under almost three meters of water. Yes, landfall at high tide. Yes, where my friends live. As I type this, Cyclone Yasi is expected to make landfall in eight hours and 47 minutes. Be safe, mates. Get to high ground. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-speed-fnq-australia-cyclone-yasi/569854/2 "2011-02-02T03:43:16Z")
I certainly hope they take note of what happened on our Mississippi coast with Katrina’s high storm surge (11.6 meters), and get out of there before it’s too late. Luck to your mates, **Duckster**. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-speed-fnq-australia-cyclone-yasi/569854/3 "2011-02-02T04:36:24Z")
[Concurrent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=595475) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-speed-fnq-australia-cyclone-yasi/569854/4 "2011-02-02T10:08:30Z")
The graphic in the concurrent thread merit repeating here. Cyclone Yasi overlayed on the [USA, Asia and Europe](http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/how-cyclone-yasi-compares-around-the-world/story-fn7ik2te-1225998762870). And just to remember that while this cyclone is 2000km across, it barely going to affect Brisbane, the state capital