[Queensland] Cyclone Ita: residents go to shelters as storm intensifies to category 5
Date April 11, 2014 - 1:33PM
Staff reporters and AAP
VIDEO
Cyclone Ita approaches Far North Queensland Queensland Premier Campbell Newman warns residents of Far North Queensland to prepare for 300km/h winds, heavy rain, 1.5-metre storm surges and power outages for up to four weeks as Cyclone Ita approaches. Nine News.
Cyclone Ita is predicted to make landfall in the Queensland’s far north on Friday evening, bringing 300km/h winds and very heavy rain.
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted the category 5 storm, which was 205 kilometres northeast of Cooktown at 9.55am, will cross the coast between Cape Melville and Cooktown.
At 2pm, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Lee Johnson, State Disaster Coordinator Stephen Gollschewski, and Police and Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey are set to provide an update on preparations.
Cyclone Ita sits menacingly over north Queensland. Photo: NOAA/Twitter
There are about 9000 people directly in Ita’s path, with the bureau saying the the storm poses a “serious threat to communities along the far north Queensland coast”.
In Cooktown, the local cyclone shelter had filled with 300 people by early Friday morning, Cook Shire Deputy Mayor Penny Johnson said.
Blustery gusts from the storm were being felt on the coast on Friday morning, Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said.
A map of tropical cyclone Ita's predicted path, as of 8.07am Friday. Photo: Bureau of Meteorology
“We certainly haven’t seen the strongest winds developing yet, given the centre of the system is quite a way off shore but we are starting to see those wind gusts picking up in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Domensino predicted Ita would cross the coast between 7pm and 10pm on Friday.
He said rainfalls of up to 500mm could occur in the worst-hit areas.
Cyclone Ita strengthened to become a category 5 storm on Thursday night. Photo: Higgins Storm Chasing
“As the system moves south, we’ll see those heavy falls extending south towards Townsville and over the weekend, further south towards the Mackay coast,” he said.
A cyclone warning is in place from Cape Sidmouth to Innisfail - taking in the bigger population centres of Cooktown, Port Douglas and Cairns - as well as areas hundreds of kilometres inland.
The weather bureau says while Ita was intense, it is a smaller system and would move slower than category five cyclone Yasi in 2011 and category four cyclone Larry in 2006.
Emergency services in Cooktown brace for Ita. Photo: Ten News
It is expected to head south towards Port Douglas and Cairns once its crosses the coast, before reaching Innisfail and Cardwell about 4pm on Saturday.
It is not likely to move offshore until Sunday afternoon.
Supermarket shelves in Cairns were cleared of bottled water and bread as north Queensland residents prepared for the possible onslaught on Thursday.
Premier Campbell Newman talks with Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott in Cooktown, north Queensland. Photo: Nine News.
The Great Barrier Reef resort of Lizard Island was evacuated on Wednesday as a precaution and will remain closed until Sunday.
Authorities also hold concerns for the Aboriginal community of Hope Vale, near Cooktown, which is home to about 1000 people.
Warning
A satellite image showing cyclone Ita bearing down on north Queensland. Photo: Weatherzone
A cyclone warning has been issued for coastal areas coastal areas from Cape Sidmouth to Innisfail, including Cooktown, Port Douglas and Cairns, and extending inland to areas including Kalinga, Palmerville, Mareeba and Chillagoe.
The cyclone is also in place for coastal areas from Innisfail to Cardwell, extending to adjacent inland areas
The cyclone is expected to bring storm surges, predicted to be 1.5 metres bigger than usual high tides, in Cooktown, home to about 2300 people 300 kilometres north of Cairns.
Cyclone Ita Channel Nine footage of the Cooktown region as it prepares for Cyclone Ita. Photo: Channel Nine
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