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Cyclone Ita: Queensland braced for category four storm Cyclone Ita: Queensland hit by 'very destructive' storm
(about 3 hours later)
The Australian state of Queensland is braced for the arrival of Cyclone Ita, a category-four storm set to hit its far north coast. Cyclone Ita, a category-three storm packing "very destructive" winds of more than 200km/h (140mph), has hit northern Queensland in Australia.
The storm is expected to hit the Cape York peninsula shortly, making landfall in the north-east. The storm is crossing the coast near Cape Flattery and will head south-south-west overnight, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said.
It was expected to bring damaging waves to some low-lying areas, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said, and heavy rain could cause flooding. Residents in low-lying areas have been warned to prepare for damaging waves, strong currents and 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.
Ita is expected to make landfall in the evening local time (10 hours ahead of GMT) near Cape Flattery in north-east Queensland. Previously classed as a category-five storm, it was downgraded by the BOM at 17:51 local time (07:51 GMT) to category four, then category three when it hit the Cape York Peninsula,
Previously classed as a category-five storm, it was downgraded by the BOM at 17:51 local time (07:51 GMT) to category four. However, the BOM warned it was still carrying "very destructive winds" of 205km/h (140mph) and gusts of up to 150km/h.
The cyclone "poses a serious threat to communities along the far north Queensland coast", the BOM said in a statement. In its bulletin at 23:00 local time (13:00 GMT), BOM said the storm was estimated to be 45km north of Cooktown and 215km north-north-west of Cairns.
It predicted "very destructive winds of up to 275 km/hour (170mph) near the core and gales extending out to 185km from the centre". Residents in coastal areas were also warned to expect a "dangerous storm tide overnight" and rising sea levels that could flood low-lying areas.
Now that the cyclone is making landfall, winds will decrease quickly over the next 24 hours, BBC weather's Chris Fawkes said. "People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area," BOM said in its advisory.
As the storm is compact, with a small radius, winds are expected to decrease rapidly away from the eye of the storm, he added. Residents in the cyclone's path - between Cape Melville and Cooktown - should "stay calm and remain in a secure shelter", it added.
BBC Weather's Tomasz Schafernaker says that although the very destructive winds will remain close to the centre of the storm, gale force winds and heavy rainfall could extend out as far as 180km (111 miles).
If the eye of the storm heads inland it is likely to blow itself out, but if it stays close to the coastline gales and heavy rain are likely to continue battering communities for days to come, he adds.
'Blowing its guts out''Blowing its guts out'
The Cape York peninsula is sparsely populated, with residents concentrated in a number of towns.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. A cyclone warning is in place in coastal areas including Cooktown, Cape Melville, Port Douglas and Cairns, and several inland areas.
Cooktown Mayor Peter Scott said in quotes carried by ABC that around 350 people were in the town's cyclone shelter.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"."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. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman sought to reassure people: "We all can get through this without anyone being injured or killed.
"Very heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding," was also developing in parts of north-east Queensland, the bureau added. "I want people to know you are not alone. We are all being backed up by a very big team."
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''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 earlier 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.
"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.
"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."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.""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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