Expect a mini-Yasi

Danger as Debbie nears Cardwell coast

FAR North Queenslanders, who suffered under cyclones Yasi and Larry, are watching a potential category three system barrelling towards the coast with trepidation.

The latest weather bureau forecast map for Cyclone Debbie shows the system making landfall near Townsville on Monday.

It followed an earlier prediction of a more northerly crossing. The watch zone was yesterday extended from Cape Tribulation to St Lawrence.

If accurate, it means Cairns residents could still experience westerly “down slope” wind gusts of more than 120km/h, and up to 150mm of rain.

Those caught under the eye of the storm can expect wind gusts of 165-224km/h and enough rain to cause both flash and river flooding.

Some uncertainty remains over the path of the cyclone and weather bureau forecaster Andrew Mostyn urged residents between Cairns and Mackay to be ready.

“It has the potential, if it turns earlier, to be further north and closer to Cairns,” he said. “Typically those winds can give some roof and structural damage and power failure is likely.

“Preparations need to be in full effect between Cairns and Mackay.”

Innisfail banana farmer Jade Buchanan was yesterday confident the right action was being taken on her four properties to ride out the severe weather.

“We’ve been through Larry and Yasi, we know what we’re in for, we have a very good cyclone management strategy on our farms,” she said. “Banana farmers are tough, you factor (cyclones) in as part of your business ... they’re not an if, they’re a when.”

In the meantime the Cairns Airport remained open yesterday and a spokeswoman said it would begin a “staged shutdown” if winds of more than 100km/h were forecast to affect the city within three to six hours.