Still in recovery from last month's flood, Queensland is facing the biggest cyclone in Australian history. Although not hitting the same area that flooded, this category 5 tropical Cyclone Yasi is hitting another major town in northern Queensland tonight. The eye of the storm alone is almost 100km wide. Residents in low line areas were ordered to leave. Two of nine Cairns' evacuation centres were full by mid-day. Cairns' two hospitals were also evacuated, this made the largest hospital evacuation in Australia's history.
In comparison to Hurricane Katrina which had wind gust peaked at 340 km per hour, and cyclone Yasi is expected to peak at about 300 km per hour.
For those who are not familiar with the term cyclone, cyclone and hurricane are basically the same thing. (Perhaps, Don can fill in the minor differences.)
I wish all those in affected areas the best of luck.
News.com.au coverage
Queensland Government (Cyclone Yasi page)
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