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Published: February 1 2011 09:14 | Last updated: February 1 2011 09:14

An unusually large tropical cyclone with winds potentially reaching 280km per hour is headed to the flood-ravaged Australian state of Queensland forcing the closure of mines, rail networks and ports.

Cyclone Yasi, which is due to hit land near Cairns at about 1am on Thursday local time, has also forced thousands to evacuate their low-lying homes and is expected to inflict further damage on Queensland’s flood-hit agricultural sector as it moves inland.

It is forecast to be more severe than 2006’s cyclone Larry, one of the most powerful to hit Queensland in a century which caused more than A$1bn ($1bn) in damage and destroyed almost all of the country’s banana crop.

Anna Bligh, Queensland premier, said lives could be lost as she warned residents to prepare for the onslaught.

“In serious cyclone events around the world, more people are injured or lose their lives in the water that is associated with [the] storm surge than in wind and flying debris,” she said, adding that 250 patients from Cairns hospitals would be evacuated by the military.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said cyclone Yasi was “exceptionally large in size”.

Jim Davidson, the bureau’s regional director, said the nation’s eastern tropical coast would likely start to experience gale force winds on Wednesday morning.

“Tropical cyclone Yasi is currently rated as a Category three [mid-range] cyclone and is expected to continue intensifying as it moves towards the coast over the warm waters of the Coral Sea.

“There is always uncertainty with any weather event but, at this stage, the various models … are consistent in suggesting that it will cross the coast somewhere between Innisfail and Proserpine early Thursday.”

The cyclone may also threaten a significant part of Queensland’s sugar cane crop.

Steve Greenwood, chief executive of Queensland’s Canegrowers Association, an industry body, said if cyclone Yasi turned into a category four cyclone it could wipe out 40 per cent of this season’s cane crop.

“The overall impact to the industry could be very, very significant, not only to the cane crop itself but also to our infrastructure,” he told local media.

QR National, the rail haulage group, has suspended services on two coal rail networks after three Queensland coal port terminals were shut.

It said the closures were “precautionary” as the cyclone approached the coast.

“QR National is ensuring trains are stowed in safe locations and crews returned safely to home depots,” it said in a statement.

ft.com
MANDATORY evacuations begin this morning as the Bureau of Meteorology warns the storm is "likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations" and predicts winds of up to 320km/h. Tidal storm surges will cause devastation as the storm hits directly on high tide.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/flo...5997552623
Yasi upgraded to category 5 tropical cyclone with sustained winds of up to 320 km/h, over 1,000 mm (1 meter) of rain and tidal storm surges of over 4 meters. Thousands being evacuated by RAAF Hercules aircraft. Expected to hit land at 10pm today
BOM advising to get out of the area now. The window of opportunity to get out will close in 3 hours when initial winds will pick up to over 100km/hr. Tidal storm surges upgraded to over 6 meters
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