Cyclone ready?

       Cyclones are a tropical weather system similar to hurricanes except they spin the opposite direction due to Coriolis force. I would classify them as less severe than hurricanes but they shouldn't be ignored either. Townsville is supposedly due for some serious cyclonage, like 150 years due.

      Well here one comes, tomorrow.

      I would equate this with a tropical storm verging on a cat 1 hurricane so batten down the hatches but no need for panic, yet. The one that is following it is due to hit landfall Thursday and is much bigger. That one  has got me on my toes...

     In order to be cyclone ready I should: move the critters inside, move the plants inside, basically move anything I care about that I don't want subjected to 165 kph+ (102 mph) winds inside and have plenty of water available. Power may be cut, but I'll live, I'm stocking up on ice. I have bread, eggs, milk, and vegemite so I'll be fine. (I've also got a bunch of fruit and veg, nutella, oatmeal, taro chips, Tim Tams... ) I think I'll survive. 

Let's see how it goes..... weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

UPDATE!

30/1/11

Looks like cyclone Anthony will be hitting just south of me and therefore I'll miss the worst of the storm. It's still nothing to snub your nose at. Townsville and Mackay have been preemptively declared disaster areas, so it will be a good precursor to the bigger and badder cyclone just behind it.

Here's the latest:Weather update: 9pm.

UPDATE! 

31/1/11

This morning I awoke to business as usual. Chirping birds and dew moistened grass, so no rain really. It seemed to fizzle out just south of us so that one is a miss! 

Next Thursday might hold different results with Cyclone Yasi being upgraded to a category 4 and expected to reach a category 5 by Wednesday. The warning areas go as far north as Cairns and as far south as Bowen. So as of now it's swung upwards and we will either get hit head on or get the nasty side of it. Unlike hurricanes, cyclones can change direction at any time so nothing is set in stone. I will keep updating this post as the storm develops.

UPDATE!

1/2/11

It looks like Cyclone Yasi has us in her path. Severe winds and rain with a massive tidal surge. I'll start battening down the hatches after work today. I'll keep updating on this post and you can track the storm via this website: Cyclone Yasi tracker

UPDATE!

2/2/11

 Here is the latest on the storm's position:

  

Looks like were going to get more of a wallop than we previously thought.  A category five now and heading south, could be the worst cyclone Queensland has seen. Good news is I'm prepared. I can seek shelter under the main house which is bricked in if necessary and I have plenty of food and water. I have portable BBQs to cook on and charged up all my batteries. So worse comes to worse, it'll rain sideways and flood some areas, howl like crazy and blow stuff around. My little granny flat may have some issues with water coming in but not much and the roof may be a little flighty but all in all we should be safe and that's what matters.  As always I'll keep you posted as much as I am able.

On a side note, I have plenty of beer and wine so helloooo cyclone party!!!! Woot!