noosa hawk mad
Norm Smith Medallist
EMERGENCY services in the Noosa region were last night preparing for high winds and possible flooding as Cyclone Hamish headed for the Sunshine Coast.
Despite being downgraded from category five to category four yesterday afternoon, Hamish was still packing a punch and continuing to move south. Forecasters warn the cyclone, if it crosses the coast, could be as destructive as Cyclone Larry, the category-five system that wreaked havoc on Innisfail and surrounding areas of north Queensland in March 2006.
Hamish has been moving south parallel to the Queensland coast and by 5pm yesterday was 215km north-east of St Lawrence and 260km north of Yeppoon, moving south-east at 13kmh.
Forecasters warn it may hit land near Hervey Bay, or continue down the coast, most likely dropping to category three by the time it hits this region late tomorrow.
Late yesterday afternoon, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Vikash Prasad said it would not make much difference whether Hamish made landfall or continued to move offshore.
“Winds will increase today and likely reach gale force on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“Moderate to heavy rain may develop by tomorrow but that will depend on whether the cyclone comes closer to the coast.
“The Sunshine Coast will certainly get dangerous conditions and heavy swells.”
Noosa Coastguard section leader Patrick Odore said precautions were being taken to deal with any tidal surges and high winds.
“We are gathering every spare anchor, every spare line and have decided not to leave our vessels at Munna Point,” he said.
One vessel would be stationed at a creek off the Noosa River and two others at Noosa Waters.
“We need to have quick access to them,” Mr Odore said.
From Gympie to Noosa we are all on Clycone alert now just sent the wife up for our emergency supplies big chance of flooding with alot of low lying flood prone areas what a year for natural disasters!
Despite being downgraded from category five to category four yesterday afternoon, Hamish was still packing a punch and continuing to move south. Forecasters warn the cyclone, if it crosses the coast, could be as destructive as Cyclone Larry, the category-five system that wreaked havoc on Innisfail and surrounding areas of north Queensland in March 2006.
Hamish has been moving south parallel to the Queensland coast and by 5pm yesterday was 215km north-east of St Lawrence and 260km north of Yeppoon, moving south-east at 13kmh.
Forecasters warn it may hit land near Hervey Bay, or continue down the coast, most likely dropping to category three by the time it hits this region late tomorrow.
Late yesterday afternoon, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Vikash Prasad said it would not make much difference whether Hamish made landfall or continued to move offshore.
“Winds will increase today and likely reach gale force on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“Moderate to heavy rain may develop by tomorrow but that will depend on whether the cyclone comes closer to the coast.
“The Sunshine Coast will certainly get dangerous conditions and heavy swells.”
Noosa Coastguard section leader Patrick Odore said precautions were being taken to deal with any tidal surges and high winds.
“We are gathering every spare anchor, every spare line and have decided not to leave our vessels at Munna Point,” he said.
One vessel would be stationed at a creek off the Noosa River and two others at Noosa Waters.
“We need to have quick access to them,” Mr Odore said.
From Gympie to Noosa we are all on Clycone alert now just sent the wife up for our emergency supplies big chance of flooding with alot of low lying flood prone areas what a year for natural disasters!
