In article , "limey" wrote:

"Phred" wrote in message
Thanks for the extra detail, Dora. Though I'm beginning to wonder
when (if!) I'll get a chance to try it. Very severe tropical cyclone
Larry (Cat. 4 approaching 5) is due to cross the coast very near here
tomorrow morning (est. 0700 to 0900). If it keeps on the current
track we'll be on the edge of the very destructive winds; but if it
drifts a teeny bit further north in the next 8 hours we'll be in the
core of the bloody thing with gusts to 280 km/h. Not nice. :-(

My God. Stay safe. The disaster of Hurricane Katrina is still vivid and
ongoing here - but no gusts of 280 km/h. Let us all know that you have
come through it safely.

G'day Dora,

Thanks for your concern (and Peter too). I wasn't really expecting to
be here tonight, but as it turned out "Larry" stuck to its predicted
track and scored a direct hit on Innisfail -- which is now virtually
destroyed, but government at all levels is rushing in assistance -- so
we were on the edge. Had about an hour or hour and a half of very
strong gusty winds here in mid morning, but I don't think any peaked
at much over 110 km/h, whereas Innisfail copped some 300 km/h.

The system crossed the coast as a Cat5 and it was still a Cat2 some 13
hours later after travelling 400 km over land! Last I saw, the
destructive core was about half way across the base of Cape York
Peninsula (between Georgetown and Croydon -- but you'll need a good
map . There'll be an update of warnings in a couple of hours time.

Most damage here was limited to fallen trees and shop awnings etc. I
didn't notice any structural damage to buildings locally. Of course,
many local tree crops were badly affected, especially things like
pawpaws (papaya) and bananas. My backyard mangoes were unscathed
(mango trees are *tough* but a fine crop of feral passionfruit bit
the ground still hard green. :-(

Power remains off to a large part of far north Queensland due to
either damage to a main 132 KVA feeder, or deliberately turned off for
safety because of the number of fallen lines around the region.
(Don't know which option to believe, both seem reasonable.)

Folk have been phoning in to the regional ABC Radio (which is in
"talkback mode" this evening) describing experiences. Those who
haven't lost much other than convenience (e.g. no power) seem to be
bearing up well and having gas barbecues in the back yard and
"camping out" there. (The main problem being lack of cold beer.

Our main concern now is TC Wati which seems to be coming in on a very
similar track across the Coral Sea. However, some met experts have it
turning away to the SE before reaching Oz. (So Kiwis may have to look
out for the welfare of those walking lamb roasts.)

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID