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| Cyclone Debbie: eye of storm makes landfall in north Queensland – live updates | Cyclone Debbie: eye of storm makes landfall in north Queensland – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.48am BST | |
| 04:48 | |
| Joshua Robertson | |
| Rosalind Willcocks, who owns a caravan park at Hideaway Bay, halfway between Bowen and Airlie Beach, says the cyclone has “absolutely ripped us to shreds”. | |
| The Hydeaway Bay Caravan and Camping Park is a couple of hundred metres from the oceanfront, close to the point where Cyclone Debbie hit the mainland. | |
| Rosalind and husband Paul sent their guests packing a few days ago as a precaution, in retrospect a very sensible call. | |
| Debbie’s roaring winds have stripped the site bare (apart from the brick buildings) and sent “all sorts of crap” flying and uprooted dozens of large trees. | |
| “We’ve got the eye over us at the moment. It’s just destroyed our trees and our garden,’ she said. | |
| “The buildings are brick but we did lose a barbecue, fridge, things like that went flying off. | |
| “We have at least 30 trees down. There are just no leaves left, they’ve been shredded.” | |
| The couple are relying on a new generator that has already failed once. | |
| “There’s only two of us here to clean it all up,” she said. | |
| “Hopefully we’ve passed the worst of it now and we’ve just got a few days of cleaning up and wait for the electricity to come back.” | |
| 4.21am BST | |
| 04:21 | |
| Debbie declared a catastrophe: ICA | |
| The insurance industry peak body has officially declared Cyclone Debbie a catastrophe. | |
| The Insurance Council of Australia’s declaration triggers the establishment of a taskforce, the opening of an emergency hotline and the mobilisation of staff to work directly with local services and policy holders. | |
| “Insurers are already taking calls from policyholders, and many have teams standing by to enter the impact zone, assess claims and deliver assistance to their customers,” said the ICA’s chief executive, Rob Whelan. | |
| “Insurers are prioritising claims from this disaster, and using a triage system to get assistance to those policyholders in most urgent need of assistance first.” | |
| Cyclone Yasi caused insured losses of $1.4bn. | |
| Insurer's peak body declared #CycloneDebbie a catastrophe, first of thousands of expected claims already coming in pic.twitter.com/m1puvhnP2e | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.50am BST | |
| 4.16am BST | 4.16am BST |
| 04:16 | 04:16 |
| Joshua Robertson | Joshua Robertson |
| With the eye of the cyclone passing just north of Airlie Beach, resident Tony Fontes reported a typical, deceptive moment of respite from roaring winds and driving rain. | With the eye of the cyclone passing just north of Airlie Beach, resident Tony Fontes reported a typical, deceptive moment of respite from roaring winds and driving rain. |
| He sent the following text about 45 minutes ago. | He sent the following text about 45 minutes ago. |
| “It has calmed right down and no rain. We are OK but have lost a few more trees. Mobile phone and internet are very dodgy.” | “It has calmed right down and no rain. We are OK but have lost a few more trees. Mobile phone and internet are very dodgy.” |
| 4.09am BST | 4.09am BST |
| 04:09 | 04:09 |
| There are reports of people attempting to go for a surf at Airlie Beach – or if we are looking at this image, standing by the shore contemplating going in. | |
| Either way, not clever. | |
| What is this clown doing??? There's debris flying everywhere and this guys going for a surf!! @9NewsQueensland @9NewsAUS #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/lR1YyoZqyk | What is this clown doing??? There's debris flying everywhere and this guys going for a surf!! @9NewsQueensland @9NewsAUS #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/lR1YyoZqyk |
| If you do want to have some cyclone-related fun, this resident has expertly had a go during a live TV interview from the safety of his living room. | |
| The hardy residents of Far North Queensland and the perils of live television.....#CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/gKZCntGdvr | The hardy residents of Far North Queensland and the perils of live television.....#CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/gKZCntGdvr |
| The eye is now over the Airlie Beach area and the official advice is to not go outside, even though it seems calm. Strong winds could resume at any time. | |
| Mackay is really copping it now. #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/ObfE0XaLP0 | Mackay is really copping it now. #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/ObfE0XaLP0 |
| #cyclonedebbie arrives in #Mackay @ABCemergency pic.twitter.com/FhPHvA6I6l | #cyclonedebbie arrives in #Mackay @ABCemergency pic.twitter.com/FhPHvA6I6l |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.51am BST | |
| 3.58am BST | 3.58am BST |
| 03:58 | 03:58 |
| Here are a few snaps and clips from around the cyclone-affected region. | |
| “It’s been a long night and day,” Rebecca Nicol tells Guardian Australia. | “It’s been a long night and day,” Rebecca Nicol tells Guardian Australia. |
| “No power of course. Wind has been swirling and gusting. Eye has just passed. We live right on the edge of Abell Point marina.” | |
| The video Nicol has sent was taken at about 10.30 this morning when it was gusting about 120 knots. | |
| Rebecca Nicol has sent in this clip from Airlie Beach. #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/vVChv6vDBq | Rebecca Nicol has sent in this clip from Airlie Beach. #CycloneDebbie pic.twitter.com/vVChv6vDBq |
| Just heard part of the awning from the building next door fly down the street in Bowen. #CycloneDebbie | Just heard part of the awning from the building next door fly down the street in Bowen. #CycloneDebbie |
| An ABC journalist, Jonathan Hair, took this photo of the Airlie port marina. Airlie Beach is now under the eye of the storm. | |
| Damage to boats at Airlie Beach. Shot from hotel room. Eye just passed over. Round two coming. @abcnews #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/zHSqedIASm | Damage to boats at Airlie Beach. Shot from hotel room. Eye just passed over. Round two coming. @abcnews #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/zHSqedIASm |
| It's eerily quiet here now as we enter the eye of the storm. Fences and trees down. #CycloneDebbie #TCDebbie #Whitsundays #airliebeach | It's eerily quiet here now as we enter the eye of the storm. Fences and trees down. #CycloneDebbie #TCDebbie #Whitsundays #airliebeach |
| Kev and Donna Poschelk are riding out the storm in their home in Bowen with Josh, who is surely having a memorable 13th birthday. | Kev and Donna Poschelk are riding out the storm in their home in Bowen with Josh, who is surely having a memorable 13th birthday. |
| “We’re looking towards the east where the eye of the cyclone is supposed to be. Wind is coming from the west behind us (all day). No electricity and no TV so we are sitting on the lounge watching the action through open (cyclone-rated) lattice.” | |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.54am BST | |
| 3.46am BST | 3.46am BST |
| 03:46 | 03:46 |
| 'This is going to be a terrible disaster' | 'This is going to be a terrible disaster' |
| From AAP: | From AAP: |
| Residents in the path of Cyclone Debbie could be waiting until Wednesday for emergency help, as the destructive slow-moving storm keeps the region in lockdown for hours. | Residents in the path of Cyclone Debbie could be waiting until Wednesday for emergency help, as the destructive slow-moving storm keeps the region in lockdown for hours. |
| The northern region SES manager, Dale Camp, said strong winds were expected to continue into the evening. | |
| The high-level category-four system is not expected to weaken to a tropical low until midday on Wednesday. | |
| “It’s a very slow-moving cyclone, so we’re talking anywhere between six and 14 hours until it’s completely over in each location,” he said. “So that puts it well into this evening, and that’s the problem, everyone is going to have to stay in their house all day, and then stay there all night as well. | “It’s a very slow-moving cyclone, so we’re talking anywhere between six and 14 hours until it’s completely over in each location,” he said. “So that puts it well into this evening, and that’s the problem, everyone is going to have to stay in their house all day, and then stay there all night as well. |
| Camp said poor light in the evening would hamper any clean-up efforts. | Camp said poor light in the evening would hamper any clean-up efforts. |
| “We have to wait for that wind to die down before we move around, and if it’s at night time it makes it very difficult to see things like floodwaters, so they’ll probably be waiting until first light tomorrow,” he said. | “We have to wait for that wind to die down before we move around, and if it’s at night time it makes it very difficult to see things like floodwaters, so they’ll probably be waiting until first light tomorrow,” he said. |
| Debbie had moved as slow as 4km/h in heading to the north Queensland coast on Tuesday morning but quickened to 12km/h as the eyewall made landfall near Airlie Beach just after midday. | Debbie had moved as slow as 4km/h in heading to the north Queensland coast on Tuesday morning but quickened to 12km/h as the eyewall made landfall near Airlie Beach just after midday. |
| A Whitsundays councillor, John Collins, said Cyclone Debbie was one of the slowest he had experienced. | |
| “I’ve been through a few cyclones that are quick and nasty but this one is going to go all day,” he said. | “I’ve been through a few cyclones that are quick and nasty but this one is going to go all day,” he said. |
| “It’s a long wait, sitting here waiting while it tears everything up. | “It’s a long wait, sitting here waiting while it tears everything up. |
| “This is going to be a terrible disaster when it is all over and done with.” | “This is going to be a terrible disaster when it is all over and done with.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.53am BST | |
| 3.29am BST | 3.29am BST |
| 03:29 | 03:29 |
| Here is the latest tracking map from the Bureau of Meteorology. Debbie has just made landfall between Airlie Beach and Bowen as a category-four cyclone. | |
| #CycloneDebbie is crossing the coast between #Bowen and #AirlieBeach. Stay updated at https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/w0XcgFLPXL | #CycloneDebbie is crossing the coast between #Bowen and #AirlieBeach. Stay updated at https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/w0XcgFLPXL |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.55am BST | |
| 3.24am BST | 3.24am BST |
| 03:24 | 03:24 |
| If you have taken video or photos of Cyclone Debbie, please send them through to helen.davidson@theguardian.com. We would love to run them on the site. | If you have taken video or photos of Cyclone Debbie, please send them through to helen.davidson@theguardian.com. We would love to run them on the site. |
| This request is only if you are able to do so safely. Please don’t take any risks. | This request is only if you are able to do so safely. Please don’t take any risks. |
| 3.19am BST | 3.19am BST |
| 03:19 | 03:19 |
| Cyclone eye reaches mainland | Cyclone eye reaches mainland |
| The eye of cyclone Debbie has now reached mainland Queensland, making landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach. | The eye of cyclone Debbie has now reached mainland Queensland, making landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach. |
| It’s estimated to be 50km east south-east of Bowen and 30km north-east of Proserpine. It has picked up speed slightly but remains very slow, moving south-west at 12km/h. | It’s estimated to be 50km east south-east of Bowen and 30km north-east of Proserpine. It has picked up speed slightly but remains very slow, moving south-west at 12km/h. |
| URGENT: #CycloneDebbie starting to make landfall btwn Bowen & Airlie Beach. If winds stop, you are only in Eye. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE. #alert | URGENT: #CycloneDebbie starting to make landfall btwn Bowen & Airlie Beach. If winds stop, you are only in Eye. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE. #alert |
| The local ABC radio transmitter at Bowen has lost power, and residents are urged to tune into the 630 AM frequency for emergency coverage. | The local ABC radio transmitter at Bowen has lost power, and residents are urged to tune into the 630 AM frequency for emergency coverage. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.23am BST | at 3.23am BST |
| 2.51am BST | 2.51am BST |
| 02:51 | 02:51 |
| Operators of the Kinchant Dam at Mackay have begun releasing water after the heavy rains brought by the cyclone sent it beyond capacity overnight. | Operators of the Kinchant Dam at Mackay have begun releasing water after the heavy rains brought by the cyclone sent it beyond capacity overnight. |
| Colin Bendall, executive general manager of operations and services at SunWater, told ABC Rural this was a routine action in response to a full dam, and they began releasing water about 11.30pm Monday. | Colin Bendall, executive general manager of operations and services at SunWater, told ABC Rural this was a routine action in response to a full dam, and they began releasing water about 11.30pm Monday. |
| About 700 megalitres a day will be discharged, and has cut off a road at a point known as Anthony’s Crossing. Bendall said plenty of notice was given to residents and due to the unpredictability of cyclones they waited until last night so as not to cut off the road too early. | About 700 megalitres a day will be discharged, and has cut off a road at a point known as Anthony’s Crossing. Bendall said plenty of notice was given to residents and due to the unpredictability of cyclones they waited until last night so as not to cut off the road too early. |
| 2.43am BST | 2.43am BST |
| 02:43 | 02:43 |
| Summary | Summary |
| As of half an hour ago, Cyclone Debbie remained a category four storm, sitting about 35km north-west of Hamilton Island and 65km east of Bowen. It’s moving at a very slow 9km/h. | As of half an hour ago, Cyclone Debbie remained a category four storm, sitting about 35km north-west of Hamilton Island and 65km east of Bowen. It’s moving at a very slow 9km/h. |
| At the centre of the cyclone the BoM has recorded sustained winds of 185km/h with gusts to 260km/h. | At the centre of the cyclone the BoM has recorded sustained winds of 185km/h with gusts to 260km/h. |
| Its very destructive core was already impacting the Whitsundays, and was expected to cross the north Queensland mainland between Bowen and Airlie beach early this afternoon, but those areas are already being affected. | Its very destructive core was already impacting the Whitsundays, and was expected to cross the north Queensland mainland between Bowen and Airlie beach early this afternoon, but those areas are already being affected. |
| All residents in its path have been told to stay calm and remain in a secure shelter above expected water levels. Don’t go outside, obviously, including when the eye passes over and conditions appear calm but will worsen again with little warning. | All residents in its path have been told to stay calm and remain in a secure shelter above expected water levels. Don’t go outside, obviously, including when the eye passes over and conditions appear calm but will worsen again with little warning. |
| #CycloneDebbie impacting Airlie Beach this morning. Conditions will intensify as the system moves closer. Stay inside. Stay safe. #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/qnNmHETgek | #CycloneDebbie impacting Airlie Beach this morning. Conditions will intensify as the system moves closer. Stay inside. Stay safe. #TCDebbie pic.twitter.com/qnNmHETgek |
| Reports have already come in of roofs lifting off houses and buildings, and about 23,000 homes are without power, mostly in Mackay and the Whitsundays. | Reports have already come in of roofs lifting off houses and buildings, and about 23,000 homes are without power, mostly in Mackay and the Whitsundays. |
| Waves of up to eight metres were recorded by buoys off Mackay overnight, which Weatherzone said was only the fourth time in recorded history. | Waves of up to eight metres were recorded by buoys off Mackay overnight, which Weatherzone said was only the fourth time in recorded history. |
| There are concerns about higher than normal tides coinciding with the cyclone to create dangerous storm surge conditions and potential flooding. | There are concerns about higher than normal tides coinciding with the cyclone to create dangerous storm surge conditions and potential flooding. |
| Almost 400 schools and childcare centres in north Queensland have been closed. | Almost 400 schools and childcare centres in north Queensland have been closed. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.02am BST | at 3.02am BST |
| 2.28am BST | 2.28am BST |
| 02:28 | 02:28 |
| Hello, this is Helen Davidson, taking over the live coverage of Cyclone Debbie for the next few hours. | Hello, this is Helen Davidson, taking over the live coverage of Cyclone Debbie for the next few hours. |
| I’ll get a summary of the current situation up shortly, as the storm moves ever so slowly over the Queensland coast. | I’ll get a summary of the current situation up shortly, as the storm moves ever so slowly over the Queensland coast. |
| But first a word of warning from actor, Russell Crowe, in case you were waiting on that vital celebrity encouragement to get out of the storm. | But first a word of warning from actor, Russell Crowe, in case you were waiting on that vital celebrity encouragement to get out of the storm. |
| Hope everyone in Queensland stays safe & sound. Just for once I'll say "c'mon Queenslander !" One of the most beautiful places on the planet | Hope everyone in Queensland stays safe & sound. Just for once I'll say "c'mon Queenslander !" One of the most beautiful places on the planet |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.31am BST | at 2.31am BST |
| 2.17am BST | 2.17am BST |
| 02:17 | 02:17 |
| Joshua Robertson | Joshua Robertson |
| Whitsunday regional councillor, Mike Brunker, who is based in Bowen, said there was “huge concern” around the ability of the town’s older buildings to withstand the cyclone’s onslaught. | Whitsunday regional councillor, Mike Brunker, who is based in Bowen, said there was “huge concern” around the ability of the town’s older buildings to withstand the cyclone’s onslaught. |
| The last time Bowen, population 10,000, was rebuilt after a major cyclone was in 1958, when it was “wiped nearly off the map”, Brunker said. | The last time Bowen, population 10,000, was rebuilt after a major cyclone was in 1958, when it was “wiped nearly off the map”, Brunker said. |
| This meant much of the local housing dates to before cyclone ratings were introduced to building codes in the early 1980s. | This meant much of the local housing dates to before cyclone ratings were introduced to building codes in the early 1980s. |
| “If the eye goes just south of us and it’s around 250km an hour wind gusts, it’s going to be interesting because we have got a lot of older houses, that’s the issue,” Brunker said. | “If the eye goes just south of us and it’s around 250km an hour wind gusts, it’s going to be interesting because we have got a lot of older houses, that’s the issue,” Brunker said. |
| “It’s a huge concern because [Cyclone Debbie] is going so slow. | “It’s a huge concern because [Cyclone Debbie] is going so slow. |
| Where Yasi “ripped through” in 2011, Debbie was “going back to 6km an hour”. | Where Yasi “ripped through” in 2011, Debbie was “going back to 6km an hour”. |
| “With the rain and the softening of the ground, and the hours of relentless blowing, that’s when trees fly, your roofs go and that sort of stuff,” Burnker said. | “With the rain and the softening of the ground, and the hours of relentless blowing, that’s when trees fly, your roofs go and that sort of stuff,” Burnker said. |
| “I think we will get some sustained damage. | “I think we will get some sustained damage. |
| “I’m looking at my next door neighbour’s solar panels as we speak and it’ll be interesting to see how many solar panels survive.” | “I’m looking at my next door neighbour’s solar panels as we speak and it’ll be interesting to see how many solar panels survive.” |
| Local authorities “won’t hold out much hope” for the local golf course, but caravan parks would be spared the brunt of crashing waves because of foreshores they “cemented back in the 50s”, Brunker said. | Local authorities “won’t hold out much hope” for the local golf course, but caravan parks would be spared the brunt of crashing waves because of foreshores they “cemented back in the 50s”, Brunker said. |
| The modern-day Horseshoe Bay Road was now set back 150 metres from where the old road was, “that’s how much [foreshore] we’ve lost in 50 years”, he said. | The modern-day Horseshoe Bay Road was now set back 150 metres from where the old road was, “that’s how much [foreshore] we’ve lost in 50 years”, he said. |
| “I took some before and after shots last Wednesday so it’ll be interesting what comes about.” | “I took some before and after shots last Wednesday so it’ll be interesting what comes about.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.26am BST | at 2.26am BST |
| 2.12am BST | 2.12am BST |
| 02:12 | 02:12 |
| I’m handing over our coverage to reporter Helen Davidson, who will continue to monitor Cyclone Debbie as it continues its slow crawl toward the north Queensland coast. | I’m handing over our coverage to reporter Helen Davidson, who will continue to monitor Cyclone Debbie as it continues its slow crawl toward the north Queensland coast. |
| 1.59am BST | 1.59am BST |
| 01:59 | 01:59 |
| Wind gusts have reached 263km/h at Hamilton Island | Wind gusts have reached 263km/h at Hamilton Island |
| Wind gusts have reached a staggering 263km/h at Hamilton Island, as the eye wall of Cyclone Debbie continues to move slowly through the Whitsundays. | Wind gusts have reached a staggering 263km/h at Hamilton Island, as the eye wall of Cyclone Debbie continues to move slowly through the Whitsundays. |
| This footage from Instagram user Tarin Moloney gives a sense of what it’s like for those on the island right now. Moloney said the pressure from the wind was making her ears pop. | This footage from Instagram user Tarin Moloney gives a sense of what it’s like for those on the island right now. Moloney said the pressure from the wind was making her ears pop. |
| Cyclone Debbie spam. The pressure from the wind is making our ears pop. #cyclonedebbie #hamiltonisland | Cyclone Debbie spam. The pressure from the wind is making our ears pop. #cyclonedebbie #hamiltonisland |
| A post shared by Tarin (@tarinmoloney) on Mar 27, 2017 at 3:59pm PDT | A post shared by Tarin (@tarinmoloney) on Mar 27, 2017 at 3:59pm PDT |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.00am BST | at 2.00am BST |
| 1.55am BST | 1.55am BST |
| 01:55 | 01:55 |
| Queensland Health has activated emergency operation centres and says hospitals remain open, despite the loss of power, including in Townsville and Mackay. | Queensland Health has activated emergency operation centres and says hospitals remain open, despite the loss of power, including in Townsville and Mackay. |
| 🌀 #TCDebbie update 🏥- Hospitals remain open incl. @TownsvilleHHS & @MackayHHS - Health Emergency Operations Centres have been activated. | 🌀 #TCDebbie update 🏥- Hospitals remain open incl. @TownsvilleHHS & @MackayHHS - Health Emergency Operations Centres have been activated. |
| 1.45am BST | 1.45am BST |
| 01:45 | 01:45 |
| The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner, Mark Roche, said he had not yet received reports of widespread structural devastation. But he said his staff will not go outside until the winds reduce to at least 80km/h. | The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner, Mark Roche, said he had not yet received reports of widespread structural devastation. But he said his staff will not go outside until the winds reduce to at least 80km/h. |
| “We are seeing some of the footage coming from areas like Hamilton Island. A lot of wind, a lot of rain,” he told the ABC. | “We are seeing some of the footage coming from areas like Hamilton Island. A lot of wind, a lot of rain,” he told the ABC. |
| “We do believe there will be significant structural damage, significant flooding. There will be electrical wires down and the community just need to ride out this storm.” | “We do believe there will be significant structural damage, significant flooding. There will be electrical wires down and the community just need to ride out this storm.” |
| Asked what reports he had from the popular tourist hub of Airlie Beach, Roche said: | Asked what reports he had from the popular tourist hub of Airlie Beach, Roche said: |
| “What they are seeing is trees falling out or being uprooted. Some minor damage around their houses and property ... but the reality is this will be widespread and this will be across a very vast area and people just need to ride out the storm.” | “What they are seeing is trees falling out or being uprooted. Some minor damage around their houses and property ... but the reality is this will be widespread and this will be across a very vast area and people just need to ride out the storm.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.48am BST | at 1.48am BST |
| 1.33am BST | 1.33am BST |
| 01:33 | 01:33 |
| Yachts moored off of Airlie Beach are already being pushed around by Cyclone Debbie, well before the most destructive winds are forecast. Channel 7 has just posted this footage of a yacht being pushed into the breakwater. | Yachts moored off of Airlie Beach are already being pushed around by Cyclone Debbie, well before the most destructive winds are forecast. Channel 7 has just posted this footage of a yacht being pushed into the breakwater. |
| Amazing footage of a yacht slamming into the breakwater wall at Airlie Beach, QLD #TCDebbie #sun7 pic.twitter.com/eVtPd6mQPq | Amazing footage of a yacht slamming into the breakwater wall at Airlie Beach, QLD #TCDebbie #sun7 pic.twitter.com/eVtPd6mQPq |
| 1.29am BST | 1.29am BST |
| 01:29 | 01:29 |
| Police staffing triple-zero calls have told of increasingly panicked calls for help, according to AAP. | Police staffing triple-zero calls have told of increasingly panicked calls for help, according to AAP. |
| One caller said the roof was lifting off an apartment building in the Whitsunday region. Another caller from the region is sheltering in the laundry of a home whose roof has caved in. | One caller said the roof was lifting off an apartment building in the Whitsunday region. Another caller from the region is sheltering in the laundry of a home whose roof has caved in. |
| We’re still several hours out from Cyclone Debbie’s landfall. Timing is fluid, but the cyclone continues to crawl south-west towards the coast at 6km/h. The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast is for landfall about 2pm. At 10am local time, Debbie was about 75km east of Bowen and 50km north of Hamilton Island. | We’re still several hours out from Cyclone Debbie’s landfall. Timing is fluid, but the cyclone continues to crawl south-west towards the coast at 6km/h. The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest forecast is for landfall about 2pm. At 10am local time, Debbie was about 75km east of Bowen and 50km north of Hamilton Island. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology has just confirmed on radio the landfall time of #TCDebbie is likely to be around 2pm. | The Bureau of Meteorology has just confirmed on radio the landfall time of #TCDebbie is likely to be around 2pm. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.32am BST | at 1.32am BST |