Monster cyclone pummels northeast Australian coast

gusts up to 280 kph. Coming in tonight.

Good luck guys. Can't remember Okinawa ever getting hit this hard.

This thing is larger than cyclone tracy that hit the 70,s in Darwin.. This is the mother, of all mothers, good luck to all those in the area...

But climate change is a myth... because the Tories/Republicans say so.

Frightening to be caught in something like that.

But climate change is a myth... because the Tories/Republicans say so.

I don't know of anyone who says there is no such thing as climate change. Anyway, what the heck does that have to do with this huge cyclone?

Hopefully, it will turn away and Australia will be spared.

What does this mean? Quote: “In reality, we would like people to get as far south as possible, as quickly as possible, without of course breaking the rules,” said Ian Stewart, the state’s disaster coordinator.

Does he mean speeding, crossing red lights, and stuff?

Unfortunately this is the risk you take living in tropical queensland. However with a small population, good roads, all can move inland to safety in time. The imporatant point to remember is Life is more important than Property.

what the heck does that have to do with this huge cyclone?

It might have a heck of a lot to do with it, but hopefully people can save that battle for another day. This looks like VERY serious stuff, right now the important thing is that people stay as safe as possible. The satellite photos look unbelievable and it seems to be a huge size and the eye heading straight for Cairns.

Also, that one meter of rain forecast, wow. I don't know how much rain fell in Darwin in '74, but I remember my uncle was working there at the time and often talked about that cyclone.

Good luck guys. Looks like it's time to leave.

my sister and her hubby have being told by the army that the road will be closed in 2 hours, they are in Townsville,,,,they are going to an Aunties place, the Uncle has made it as storm proof as he can, and they have stocked up on food, it is supposed to hit midnight tonight,,,,, I am officially freaking out, if you go to news . com . au then you can see the eye of the storm is twice as big as the eye of Katrina! FREAKING OUT HERE! hope my baby sister will be ok,,,,,,

Just heard that all the evacuation centres in Cairns are now full. ABC radio was saying that these centres are "places of a last resort"... they are not rated to withstand a cyclone of this strength. But not much choice for people in the possible storm surge/flooding areas.

Also the cyclone passed over Willis Island, (450 kilometres east of Cairns) this morning, and knocked out the weather bureau's radar system. The bureau says the maximum wind speed recorded before the equipment went down was 185 kilometres an hour.

"mrskit", you can listen to a live radio feed on

abc.net. au/emergency/cyclone/yasi/

(remove space)

I know how you feel; I'm from Cairns and have family there now.

Hope you guys and gals down under will be fine.

thanks Creamy ;D lots of prayers tonight ,,,,

It's incredible that there are actually some idiots strolling along the waterfront. Do they think it is just going to be some rain and wind?

There are always idiots during a storm. Hope that everyone comes out alright.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all there. Queensland has already suffered enough with the terrible flooding recently.

Just want to pass on to any Australians, especially Queenslanders, in Japan trying to get information that ABC has removed the geographical blocking on the ABC News 24 station and it can be now watched over the internet here in Japan. Just go to the ABC news website.

suggested to be the worst in the area since 1918 - so not much change in the climate - a slight improvement perhaps

GJDailleult, thanks for the update

GJDailleult, this seems to be a good move on ABC's part, removing the geographical blocking. Why do news companies have to block anyway in this age of globalization?

Man, I hope everyone evacuates and is spared any further misery from this and other phenomena Down Under. As one poster said, life is more important than property, as much as losing the latter might hurt. I only pray that everyone gets out safely and people who DO lose property are compensated.

As for the poster who hoped the storm would change direction, I wish it would, but given the speed of the storm and the winds, and the b-line it's making to go straight into the outback, I highly doubt it's going to change in the next 8 or so hours before it's supposed to hit.

I wasn't completely aware that the name changes from 'typhoon' to 'cyclone' when it hits in the South West Pacific or Indian Oceans.

Thanks for the tip GJDailleult !

I just left Brisbane after being stuck there for two weeks due to the worst flooding in 35 yrs. Now Im in Cairns about to be hit by the biggest & worst cyclone in Aust.history. I cant help feeling like I am a disaster magnet. Anyone know a good exorcist?

300, three HUNDRED kmph. 7 meter SEVEN meter storm surge. WOW. Be careful folks! x

They're announcing that the eye will take an hour to pass... but that is surely only if you are dead in the center/centre of it. Maximum one hour for some people. Towards the edges it may only be a few minutes, and you may just feel the wind changing directions around you.

Thanks God Australia is well prepared and let's only pray for no casualties.

“We’re just going to stay here and drink beer,” McNaught said

Human behavior transcends borders. Good luck tonight, Australia, and here's to you.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Australia, especially those in Cairns. I wish you all the best.

Smitty, Yes, technically, cyclones in the IO and Southern WP are cyclones but I was told the Aussies refer to them as Willy-willies. Someone here may have to correct me if I am wrong.

It's also kind of funny that the govt. would tell people to head south. If the storm changes track, it will curve southward. Unfortunately, there's just nowhere north to go.

When I was in the Navy, a cyclone hit Cairns 4 times. It kept regenerating.

The rest of the Navy went south and got hammered. I recommended that we go north, toward the Equator and we were fine (cyclones cannot last close to the equator due to a lack of coriolis effect).

Taka