I am guessing that Neil Hewett and his family have spent the day preparing for Cyclone Larry.
The cyclone is already a category 4 (225-279 km/hr winds) and expected to intensify before crossing the coast somewhere south of Cairns (and the Daintree) early tomorrow morning.
Hurricane Katrina was a category 4, as was Cyclone Tracy.
My brother Jim lives in Cairns and he said he had never seen the city so busy as it was today, with people stocking up on food, cleaning up around their homes and gardens and carting rubbish to the dump.
I am also thinking of my Aunt Diana, keep safe.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.
Reports are now suggesting it may intensify further to a category 5, http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1595537.htm . When was the last time a category 5 hit North Queensland?
I predicted it. It’s global warming. Told you all so.
(Seriously hope everyone up there goes OK and keeps safe – Hang tight Neil !).
hang on to your hats
Thanks for your thoughts. We heard a number of large trees come down earlier this morning and the winds are beginning to intensify. Spare a thought for the people around Innisfail. It’s frightening enough here in the Daintree; it must be truly horrifying at the centre of its pathway of destruction.