CNN/AP: Australia faces Katrina-type cyclone

[DeepModem Mom]

Australia faces Katrina-type cyclone
Sunday, March 19, 2006

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Residents along stretches of Australia's northeastern coast were ordered out of their homes Sunday as a powerful tropical cyclone bore down on them packing damaging winds and the threat of a devastating storm surge.

Tropical Cyclone Larry was a category four storm, on a scale that tops at five, and Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said it could pack wind gusts up to 280 kilometers per hour (174 mph). The bureau did not give a reading for the storm's sustained winds.

Queensland state Counter Disaster and Rescue Services executive director Frank Pagano compared the potential force of Larry to Katrina, which ravaged the United States' Gulf Coast in August last year, killing more than 1,300 people.

"This is the most devastating cyclone that we could potentially see on the east coast of Queensland for decades ... there is going to be destruction," Pagano told reporters in Brisbane.

"Katrina was a category five -- this is currently a category four that can develop similar to the American one," he added....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/cyclone.larry.ap/index.html

[dbt]

1. Goddess Save The Aussies!

:loveya:
dbt
Remember New Orleans

[Aviation Pro]

2. MTSAT image....

...IR only.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Thanks, Aviation Pro!

[Aviation Pro]

6. My pleasure. Also, notice....

...the rotation is clockwise proving that the Coriolis Effect is indeed alive and well.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Wow!

[pitohui]

5. just received some private mail about this

i hope everyone is able to get out of harm's way

i don't doubt the australians will do a better job at recovery than the usa

[Toots]

12. Looks like another one developing right behind it

What we need is more Tax Cuts....

[Aviation Pro]

14. Yes, but even if it takes the same track....

...it probably won't be as intense because of what meteorologists call a "cold wake" left by a previous cyclone. (Basically, the previous storm churns up deep, cooler water that limits the convection activity of a storm that follows).

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Here's the forecasted storm track..........

<http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real-time/shemi/storm/storm26.html>

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Thanks, Media_Lies_Daily!

[Lochloosa]

9. This one is going to be bad. Should we let them know that Brownie is

looking for a job?

[lovuian]

10. Global Warming is making storms stronger...Everybody is

going to be affected no matter where you live...

[uppityperson]

11. Good luck Aussies, get out, be safe.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Update: Category 5 hits. Here's the CNN link --

Massive cyclone hits Australia
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/cyclone.larry.ap/index.html

[Aviation Pro]

15. Current visible imagery as of 0133Z....

...or approximately 1200 Local (12:00 PM). Notice that the eye has closed as the storm loses energy over the Australian landmass. However, this is still a very powerful storm from the looks of the structure.

[Matilda]

16. The worst is now over.

A link to the ABC's website:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1595959.htm


It appears that at this stage, no loss of life has been reported. If I can say one thing for
Australia, it's that we do handle these disasters pretty well. The authorities were well
organized, and everybody did as they were advised.

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Thanks, Matilda, for an on-the-scene report!

[HuffleClaw]

18. now watch the US media pretend to care about australia for a bit

anything is seemingly preferable to having to cover news that embarrasses bushco.

[flamingyouth]

19. kick

[DemoTex]

20. Tropical Cyclone Larry Slams Into Australia

The most powerful storm to hit Australia in decades laid waste to the far northern shore of Queensland Monday morning. Tropical Cyclone Larry reached Category 5 right before landfall, packing winds up to 180 mph. The storm made landfall near the small farming community of Innisfail, 60 miles south of Cairns, mowing down banana and sugarcane plantations and causing extensive damage to buildings. It is estimated that thousands of people are now homeless, while more than 100,000 people are without power; however, no fatalities have been reported.

This area is most famous for the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef that parallels the coastline for 1,400 miles. At this time, the amount of damage to the reef system is unknown.

http://premiuma.accuweather.com/adcbin/premium/headlines.asp?iws=3

[uppityperson]

21. here's my not LBN but same info topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=706641&mesg_id=706641