PDA

View Full Version : Waiting for the storm...



johnske
03-18-2006, 11:45 PM
Welcome to tropical Townsville North Queensland. All day it's been hot humid and very still, but right now the sky's just laden with heavy grey clouds and some light rain is falling. :cloud9:

But idyllic as it is, there's always a price to pay for living in paradise - Larry might pay a visit anytime and we're told he's rolling our way and may be here sometime tomorrow. Nothing's known for sure of course, first we were told he's headed for Innisfail (a fair way north of us) but now we're told he's going to Cardwell (a little less north of us) so he may drop in to Townsville for a visit after all - only time will tell. :dunno

Who's Larry you say? Well, Larry's sorta like an unwanted visitor - a troublemaker, he's a tropical cyclone (hurricane to all in the Northern hemisphere) and he scared away all the US navy ships that've been visiting us for the last few days. They all ske-daddled to Brisbane as soon as they heard he was coming (don't blame them, I wouldn't wanna be on the ocean with winds of up to 280km/hr blowing). :rotlaugh:

If anyone's interested they can follow Larrys path on a map here http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65240.shtml (it's updated every two hours). :thumb But you'll note there the estimated path when it meets land is plus or minus 110 km and it's 110 km north of us now - oh dear, oh dear, oh dear :)

It was the US's turn last year and I spose its our turn now. Anyway, the dams are very low and we need some good rain :devil2:

TonyJollans
03-19-2006, 02:29 AM
One of the pleasures of living in Britain is that, for all we moan about the weather, we don't get these kinds of extremes. I guess you just batten down the hatches and hope it passes by without injuring anyone. It looks like you will escape with 'just' strong winds, whatever that means. Good luck!

johnske
03-19-2006, 03:55 AM
Yeah, looking better with each report, but you just cant tell with these beasts, they can swing around, do U turns, whatever they like...

The last one we had here a few years back ('98 I think) was only a category 2 but it looped and zig-zagged all over the place and finally decided to just hover over Townsville and dump all its water on us until it died out. They called the result of that a "one in fifty year flood event" something like 750mm in the one day (at 11pm to 12pm it was raining at the rate of an inch every five minutes) - what's the saying - it never rains but it pours? :yes

Tommy
03-19-2006, 08:03 AM
They are called typhones there aren't they? I understand they are stronger than a hurricane. Make sure to have gas for the generaters and enough water for a week or 2.
Hold on and good luck.

johnske
03-19-2006, 08:16 AM
They are called typhones there aren't they? I understand they are stronger than a hurricane. Make sure to have gas for the generaters and enough water for a week or 2.
Hold on and good luck.Typhoon in China/Japan I think - Hurricane in US, Cyclone down here - they're all the same thing. We're being told on the news that this is the same strength as hurricane Katrina, but the good news (for us) is that it seems to be definitely headed for Innisfail now - phew - (not such good news if you're in Innisfail though :devil2: ). Still getting some good strong winds here though...

johnske
03-19-2006, 06:38 PM
Well Townsville breathes a collective sigh of relief, Larry went back on track and hit Innisfail as a low category 5 (300 km/hr winds).

Some casualties but no deaths reported yet, expecting a four metre tidal surge now, 50,000 homes in region without power and 1/3 have lost roofs (at least). Roads cut, ports and airports closed, no one can get in to help, troops and blackhawks on standby here waiting for winds to abate. Air force sent in fighter jets from Townsville to recce and assess damage (at least we know now that fighter jets do have SOME practical use :devil2: ).

Trouble now is that Larry woke up his mate Wati near Vanuatu and asked him to tag along... Waiting for Wati now http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65242.shtml ... :rofl:

mdmackillop
03-20-2006, 02:34 PM
Hi John.
Looks like Wati is the little brother but heading in your direction. Tie your hat on securely.
Regards
Malcolm