Nth Queensland storm upgraded
Cyclone Debbie is expected to have more severe winds than Cyclone Yasi did in 2011, with the nowcategory 3 storm claiming its first life yesterday.
The storm was upgraded yesterday morning, shortly after a tourist died in a car crash near Proserpine, as a result of the wild weather building in north Queensland. Police said a 31-year-old woman died at the scene following the two-car crash at Cannon Valley, 140 kilometres north of Mackay, about 8am.
‘‘We believe that’s associated with this weather event,’’ Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said.
The Bureau of Meteorology was expecting Cyclone Debbie to turn into a category 4 just before it made landfall between Rollingstone and Proserpine, predicted to be about 7 or 8am today.
Areas in the firing line included Townsville, Ayr and Airlie Beach. According to the bureau’s tracking map just after 11am, the core of the cyclone was forecast to make landfall close to Bowen.
Whitsunday Regional Council mayor Andrew Willcox said the region had two cyclone shelters, one at Bowen State High School and the other at Proserpine State Primary School.
Willcox said there was one small army crew in Bowen, with more troops able to be deployed from Townsville if needed. He said those who could not leave should stay in ‘‘high, dry places’’.
Meteorologist Adam Blazak said the system would head directly for the north Queensland coast over warm water and continue to grow. He added the system was expected to be a ‘‘low-end category 4’’ with most of the coastline to experience 120km/h winds and gusts over 200km/h in parts.
The Townsville Local Disaster Management Group warned locals that dangerous winds were expected to reach the city much earlier than first thought, with gusts of up to 100km/h developing in the city as early as 4pm yesterday.
Residents continued to evacuate yesterday morning, as the category 2 cyclone turned west on its final approach to the coast.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said winds up to 100km/h had already been recorded around the Whitsundays and Proserpine.
About 3500 residents had also been evacuated from the area between Home Hill and Proserpine, with a further 2000 told to leave from Bowen as well. - Sydney Morning Herald- AAP