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Cyclone Ita: Queensland braced for category five storm Cyclone Ita: Queensland braced for category four storm
(about 5 hours later)
The Australian state of Queensland is braced for the arrival of Cyclone Ita, a category-five storm set to hit its far north coast. The Australian state of Queensland is braced for the arrival of Cyclone Ita, a category-four storm set to hit its far north coast.
The storm is expected to hit the Cape York peninsula later on Friday, bringing very destructive winds. The storm is expected to hit the Cape York peninsula shortly, making landfall in the north-east.
It was expected to bring damaging waves to some low-lying areas, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said, and heavy rain could cause flooding.It was expected to bring damaging waves to some low-lying areas, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said, and heavy rain could cause flooding.
It is the strongest storm to hit since Cyclone Yasi, which struck in 2011.It is the strongest storm to hit since Cyclone Yasi, which struck in 2011.
Cyclone Ita, which is expected to make landfall on Friday evening local time (10 hours ahead of GMT), "poses a serious threat to communities along the far north Queensland coast", the BOM said in its latest statement. Ita is expected to make landfall in the evening local time (10 hours ahead of GMT) near Cape Flattery in north-east Queensland.
"It is expected to move in a general south-southwest direction and make landfall between Cape Melville and Cooktown this evening or tonight as a category 5 tropical cyclone with very destructive winds to 300km/h (186 miles/h) near the core and gales extending out to 200km from the centre." Previously classed as a category-five storm, it was downgraded by the BOM at 17:51 local time (07:51 GMT) to category four.
Winds were expected to gather strength during Friday as the cyclone approached, it said. The cyclone "poses a serious threat to communities along the far north Queensland coast", the BOM said in a statement.
Coastal residents were also warned of a "dangerous storm tide" as the cyclone crossed the coast. It predicted "very destructive winds of up to 275 km/hour (170mph) near the core and gales extending out to 185km from the centre".
The cyclone was expected to weaken over land overnight, but if it travelled south along the coast it could potentially bring destructive winds to the tourist hubs of Port Douglas and Cairns, the BOM said. Now that the cyclone is making landfall, winds will decrease quickly over the next 24 hours, BBC weather's Chris Fawkes said.
On Thursday, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman urged people to be ready for the storm. As the storm is compact, with a small radius, winds are expected to decrease rapidly away from the eye of the storm, he added.
"The big concerns people need to prepare for are a storm surge, which means in low-lying areas water much higher potentially than normal tides," he said. 'Blowing its guts out'
"The other big concern of course will be the normal high winds that can cause debris flying around, which people need to prepare for and... very intense rain causing quite severe local flooding." The Cape York peninsula is sparsely populated, with residents concentrated in a number of towns.
A cyclone warning is in place in coastal areas including Cooktown, Port Douglas and Cairns, and several inland areas, the BOM said.
Cooktown Mayor Peter Scott said in quotes carried by ABC that around 350 people were in the town's cyclone shelter.
"In polite terms it's blowing its guts out at the moment," he said. "We had a power outage... but power has [now] been restored".
The BOM warned coastal residents of a "dangerous storm tide" as the cyclone crossed the coast.
"Very heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding," was also developing in parts of north-east Queensland, the bureau added.
On Thursday, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman urged people to be ready for a "storm surge".
"The other big concern," he added, "will be the normal high winds that can cause debris flying around... [and] very intense rain causing quite severe local flooding."
'Like a movie'
Keith Whiting, who lives in Port Douglas, told the BBC he had been felling dead trees and removing any objects that winds could pick up.Keith Whiting, who lives in Port Douglas, told the BBC he had been felling dead trees and removing any objects that winds could pick up.
"We have prepared a safe room in the middle of the house downstairs, bought water, charged the torches and now we wait," he said."We have prepared a safe room in the middle of the house downstairs, bought water, charged the torches and now we wait," he said.
"Ita is due to arrive here in 12 hours - if she swings any further south when she leaves, she will take the house." "If she swings any further south when she leaves, she will take the house."
Stacey Owen, who lives in Cairns, said it was already wet and blustery.Stacey Owen, who lives in Cairns, said it was already wet and blustery.
"We are currently a few hours from impact," she said. "All the local shops and businesses here closed at noon. Before that all the shops were sold out of essentials like bread, milk and water." "All the local shops and businesses here closed at noon," she said. "Before that all the shops were sold out of essentials like bread, milk and water."
Bethan Knapp, a doctor at a clinic in Cairns, told the BBC: "All pregnant women over 38 weeks have been advised to evacuate and chronic disease patients have been visited by a doctor to ensure they have emergency medical packs and instructions... It's like something out of a movie."
"We have been told our power will probably go down and may be like that for a week."
Cyclone Ita brought torrential rain to the Solomon Islands late last week, causing flash floods that left at least 21 people dead.Cyclone Ita brought torrential rain to the Solomon Islands late last week, causing flash floods that left at least 21 people dead.
Are you in Queensland? Are you making preparations for Cyclone Ita? If you would be happy to speak with the BBC please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using subject Cyclone Ita.Are you in Queensland? Are you making preparations for Cyclone Ita? If you would be happy to speak with the BBC please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using subject Cyclone Ita.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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