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| Cyclone Debbie: category four storm due to hit Queensland coast – live | Cyclone Debbie: category four storm due to hit Queensland coast – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.14pm BST | |
| 21:14 | |
| Many residents in the cyclone’s path have chosen to stay. Emergency services are advising them to bunker down, keep in contact, and be prepared for the loss of power. | |
| If the winds die down, residents are urged not to go outside. It may just be a brief lull in the storm. | |
| Queensland Police deputy commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, had this advice for those who had chosen to stay in their homes. | |
| “Traditionally it’s always the bathroom and areas areas where the walls and floors are strong that people should shelter in,” Gollschewski said. | |
| “Take whatever they need in those areas. We tell people to stay connected. Keep your phones charged, keep them on as long as possible,” he said. | |
| “Power is going out across the region. If people want to know what’s happening, they can remain connected through their devices if they have them.” | |
| 9.08pm BST | |
| 21:08 | |
| This is the view of Cyclone Debbie from space as it bears down on Far North Queensland. | |
| The image was taken by the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Himawari-8 satellite and shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). | |
| 9.02pm BST | |
| 21:02 | |
| Cyclone Debbie is the worst tropical cyclone seen in Queensland since Cyclone Yasi in 2011. Yasi was a category five tropical cyclone, which wiped out almost $1bn worth of crops and agriculture, destroyed yachts at Port Hinchinbrook, and caused the death of a man who was asphyxiated by fumes while sheltering inside with his generator. | |
| This picture serves as a reminder of the force of Cyclone Yasi, which tossed yachts about at the Hinchinbrook Marina in early 2011. | |
| AAP has compiled a list of the most deadly cyclones in recent history: | |
| INGRID - March 2005Caused widespread damage in both the Northern Territory and Western Australia and then caused the death of five people in PNG after large swells capsized their boat. Ingrid made landfall at Queensland’s Cape York as a category 4 before intensifying into Cat.5 as it hit the Top End and then later crossing the Kimberley coastlineLARRY - March 2006Cyclone Larry formed off the far north Queensland coast and intensified to hit near Innisfail as a category 4/5 system. The clean-up bill was around $1.5 billion, wiping out the local banana industry and damaging 10,000 homes, totally destroying 500MONICA - April 2006Cyclone Monica, a category 5, intensified in the Gulf of Carpentaria and fortunately crossed Cape York in a remote spot, avoiding townships. The damage bill was estimated at least $6 million, which including the loss of a weather station which was completely wiped outGEORGE - March 2007Cyclone George formed in the Top End and hit the Northern Territory and Western Australia with great intensity, causing three fatalities and numerous injuries around Port Headland. One thousand people in mining camps were left stranded and $6 million worth of damage was done | |
| 8.49pm BST | |
| 20:49 | |
| Speaking of Mackay, 25,000 residents were urged to evacuate from the town’s low-lying areas on Monday. It is unclear how many residents followed that advice. Gollschewski said that would “become more clear this morning as we are able to connect with our people up there”. A big concern in Mackay is the coming storm tide, which is expected to flood low-lying areas. The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that the storm tide is increasing at Laguna Quays and Mackay. | |
| #StormTide from #CycloneDebbie increasing at #LagunaQuays and #Mackay. Dangerous stormtide possible, crossing near high tide. Source: DSITI pic.twitter.com/XbXyyJfBnR | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.52pm BST | |
| 8.41pm BST | 8.41pm BST |
| 20:41 | 20:41 |
| Queensland Police deputy commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, said emergency services were now focussing their attention on the Bowen-Whitsunday area. He said the region had been entirely locked down. Requests for help in the area could no longer be responded to, he said. | Queensland Police deputy commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, said emergency services were now focussing their attention on the Bowen-Whitsunday area. He said the region had been entirely locked down. Requests for help in the area could no longer be responded to, he said. |
| “People have to be inside. Our officers and emergency services have withdrawn. They cannot respond any more in that area,” Gollschewski told the ABC. | “People have to be inside. Our officers and emergency services have withdrawn. They cannot respond any more in that area,” Gollschewski told the ABC. |
| He urged residents in Mackay to stay off the roads. Emergency services still had the capacity to respond in Mackay, but that “will not last for very long”. | He urged residents in Mackay to stay off the roads. Emergency services still had the capacity to respond in Mackay, but that “will not last for very long”. |
| 8.36pm BST | 8.36pm BST |
| 20:36 | 20:36 |
| The latest report from AAP suggests the cyclone will make landfall near Bowen about 1pm, later than originally expected. Debbie has apparently slowed as it moves toward the coast, reducing the risk from the expected storm surge. AAP reporter, Shae McDonald, is at the popular backpacker destination, Airlie Beach. She reported the wind continued to increase throughout Monday night, making it difficult for many residents to sleep. The town and surrounding regions lost power at different points overnight, and alarms at the hotel were set off, only to be drowned out by the wind. | The latest report from AAP suggests the cyclone will make landfall near Bowen about 1pm, later than originally expected. Debbie has apparently slowed as it moves toward the coast, reducing the risk from the expected storm surge. AAP reporter, Shae McDonald, is at the popular backpacker destination, Airlie Beach. She reported the wind continued to increase throughout Monday night, making it difficult for many residents to sleep. The town and surrounding regions lost power at different points overnight, and alarms at the hotel were set off, only to be drowned out by the wind. |
| 8.27pm BST | 8.27pm BST |
| 20:27 | 20:27 |
| The gathering storm clouds made for a beautiful, ominous sunset in the town of Ayr last night. | The gathering storm clouds made for a beautiful, ominous sunset in the town of Ayr last night. |
| 8.25pm BST | 8.25pm BST |
| 20:25 | 20:25 |
| Cyclone Debbie, predicted to be the most destructive storm in Australia for six years, is due to cross the Queensland coast near Ayr on Tuesday morning. Follow all the developments with our live coverage throughout the day. | Cyclone Debbie, predicted to be the most destructive storm in Australia for six years, is due to cross the Queensland coast near Ayr on Tuesday morning. Follow all the developments with our live coverage throughout the day. |
| 8.20pm BST | 8.20pm BST |
| 20:20 | 20:20 |
| By 5am local time, Cyclone Debbie had already begun to impact on the Whitsunday Islands. Destructive wind gusts of more than 120km/h were hitting the region, and the Bureau of Meteorology predicts the winds will extend further to the coast and islands between Ayr and Sarina throughout the morning. Damaging winds were hitting the popular holiday destination, Hamilton Island. There have been cancellations to flights to and from the island, and the local school has been closed today. The BOM’s latest advice is that the cyclone is moving west-southwest at nine kilometres per hour. | By 5am local time, Cyclone Debbie had already begun to impact on the Whitsunday Islands. Destructive wind gusts of more than 120km/h were hitting the region, and the Bureau of Meteorology predicts the winds will extend further to the coast and islands between Ayr and Sarina throughout the morning. Damaging winds were hitting the popular holiday destination, Hamilton Island. There have been cancellations to flights to and from the island, and the local school has been closed today. The BOM’s latest advice is that the cyclone is moving west-southwest at nine kilometres per hour. |
| Severe #CycloneDebbie, category 4, is approaching the Whitsunday Islands. Winds increasing at #Mackay, now 94km/h. https://t.co/YTkwbdYNGp pic.twitter.com/2mKFXgeKmc | Severe #CycloneDebbie, category 4, is approaching the Whitsunday Islands. Winds increasing at #Mackay, now 94km/h. https://t.co/YTkwbdYNGp pic.twitter.com/2mKFXgeKmc |
| 8.10pm BST | 8.10pm BST |
| 20:10 | 20:10 |
| Cyclone Debbie has been upgraded to a category four tropical cyclone, and is continuing to hurtle towards the far north Queensland coast. The latest information from the Bureau of Meteorology suggests its destructive core will make landfall between Ayr and Midge Point in the late morning. The cyclone is expected to bring wind gusts of up to 260km/h near its centre. Residents are being warned of a dangerous storm tide, which will continue to steadily rise as the cyclone approaches. The tide will bring damaging waves, strong currents and the flooding of low-lying areas. | Cyclone Debbie has been upgraded to a category four tropical cyclone, and is continuing to hurtle towards the far north Queensland coast. The latest information from the Bureau of Meteorology suggests its destructive core will make landfall between Ayr and Midge Point in the late morning. The cyclone is expected to bring wind gusts of up to 260km/h near its centre. Residents are being warned of a dangerous storm tide, which will continue to steadily rise as the cyclone approaches. The tide will bring damaging waves, strong currents and the flooding of low-lying areas. |
| Please stay safe out there. If it is safe to do so, let us know how your area is affected. Send us pictures or describe your experience in an email to christopher.knaus@guardian.co.uk. We’ll continue to bring you updates as the situation develops. | Please stay safe out there. If it is safe to do so, let us know how your area is affected. Send us pictures or describe your experience in an email to christopher.knaus@guardian.co.uk. We’ll continue to bring you updates as the situation develops. |
| #CycloneDebbie #satellite loop coinciding with wind visualisation from https://t.co/nR8nKDmOxE. Satellite images: https://t.co/l3kCoJ1bPD pic.twitter.com/6UF4G5Ngxo | #CycloneDebbie #satellite loop coinciding with wind visualisation from https://t.co/nR8nKDmOxE. Satellite images: https://t.co/l3kCoJ1bPD pic.twitter.com/6UF4G5Ngxo |