Cat 4 hits Queensland, Australia

Tropical Cyclone Debbie

Debbie has just been upgraded to category 3, and is expected to intensify to category 4 before reaching the coast tomorrow morning. It is forecast to make landfall south of Ayr. This means that the maximum wind, rain and tidal surge further south will have a big impact the Whitsunday Islands and the marinas and mooring field near Airlie Beach. Its reported to be the largest cyclone since Yasi in 2011, which utterly destroyed the marina at Port Hinchinbrook amongst other damage.

Reports indicate that the large charter fleet in the region, probably the premier cruising ground on the Great Barrier Reef and in Australia, are going to take a hammering.

I believe at least one TF member has their boat at Airlie Beach. I hope that not only he, but everyone else whether on the islands or the mainland stay safe, and that their property escapes damage.

Wind map for Debbie below. Still moving SW, but only at 6kmh, and this will allow it to intensify.

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-210.63,-19.54,2789

Debbie Does Ayr

I hope everyone is safe. It really looks like the storm will cross the coast as predicted. Odd seeing news film of calm marinas and quiet seaside towns,winds quiet, conditions good,locals stocking up on food, generators, fuel, water, knowing what is likely coming. Winds up to 240km/hr are predicted. Scary.

Debbie intensified as expected to category 4, but is now tracking further south. But Airlie Beach / Whitsunday marina's and facilities are still going to be hit hard, in a bit under 12 hours time.

Of course much property and infrastructure on the mainland is also at risk, but hopefully no further loss of life as there have been lots of advance warning to enable people to move out of harms way. Although there does seem to be a foolhardy few who do not understand the risk from a storm surge that is not long before a high tide.

Greetings,
Safe wishes sent your way.

Tropical cyclone Debbie, a Category 4, is about to hit the Queensland area. Here's hoping that none of our Aussie friends are in the path of the storm.

At least we know that Hendo is in Perth, on the west side of the country, far away from Debbie's landfall. How are the rest of you?

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

Cyclone Debbie: Thousands evacuate in Queensland, Australia - BBC News

Oh boy, hope you folks down under come through this ok.

Thanks for your good wishes - the cyclone is winding itself into a boomer.

Its on the north east coast of Aus - most of our east coast members live south of Brisbane so Brisbane might bet some overcast and a bit of rain.

Best example I can give is that we live south of NC and the cyclone is due to hit in New York State

cheers

Many thanks for the information, George!

Sometimes these storms veer away at the last moment, but this time the track and severity seem set in stone, as reports from offshore islands confirm. Storm surge combined with unusually high tides does not bode well. Nothing we southerners can do, except think of northern Queenslanders. Stay safe as you can up there.

There is another thread running in Off Topic http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s51/tropical-cyclone-debbie-31090.html.
Maybe a Mod could combine them, outside OT might be better. It`s not looking good in northern Queensland, often these systems weaken or veer away at the last moment, but there is no sign of that happening this time.

I have 2 friends that have water front properties right in path of Debbie and expect to be wiped out if the 200KPH winds hit this will be the 4th big one they have gone through and the 2nd time one has had to total rebuild .It just a way of life up there buggered if I could go through with it .

She's almost stationary, moving at about 5 km/h (3 mph) and dropping a lot of rain. 194mm (8") recorded in one hour. Expected to hit the coast in about 3 hours.

BruceK said:

There is another thread running in Off Topic http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s51/tropical-cyclone-debbie-31090.html.
Maybe a Mod could combine them, outside OT might be better. It`s not looking good in northern Queensland, often these systems weaken or veer away at the last moment, but there is no sign of that happening this time.

Click to expand...

Let me see what I can do, Bruce. I agree that outside OT would be better.

Best luck to our Australian friends

I wish good luck to all our friends down there with this massive cyclone hitting them as we speak.
Wish you the best!

L.

Wind speed reached up to 263kph at Hamilton Island. Very scary. Debbie has slowed down and will not be making landfall until well after high tide. Also, the tidal surge is not expected to be severe (for reasons that are not clear to me at all) so flooding and marina damage will hopefully be less than it otherwise would have been. I still fear for those with boats in the Airlie Beach area though.

Cyclone Debbie: Track north Queensland wind speeds as it crosses coast - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Insequent said:

...Cyclone Debbie: Track north Queensland wind speeds as it crosses coast - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Click to expand...

Thanks Brian, that`s a useful (and even apolitical) ABC service.

Ex: TC Debbie is now a rain-bearing low that is tracking SSE. Lots of rain - one area had over 36" ! It will arrive in Brisbane in about 24 hours. It is still not clear how many boats and how much marine infrastructure has been damaged during the cyclone, but it certainly is a significant amount at Shute Harbour and Airlie Beach in particular. Many roads are impassable due to floodwater, fallen trees and fallen power lines. It will take a few more days before communications are restored to allow the full extent of damage to be reported. At present it seems that injuries to people are minimal, which is something to be very thankful for. Of course many homes and commercial buildings were destroyed, along with an huge amount of vegetable and fruit crops. There will be a major economic impact.

Tomorrow I will add some more docklines to the boat, but I don't think i will stay on board for the rain and wind tomorrow night. Forecast is for 6" of rain and up to 35kn of wind, which ought not be a problem. There will be local flooding to contend with in much of the area in the path of the low before it moves out to sea on Friday or Saturday.

Thank you very much for the update, Brian. That is great news that few are injured. But flooding, and cyclone destruction, hurts those affected in more ways than one and nerves will be frayed for some time.

Good for you for taking extra precautions with Insequent.

marcoh posted some links to photos here (post #3):

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s40/cyclone-queensland-31125.html#post538770

This link gives more an overview, and a sad video tour along the road to Shute Harbour.
Cyclone Debbie latest: Thousands stranded on Hamilton Island, Daydream Island