Cyclone Yasi is now a Cat 5 and will go ashore during high tide. Hurricanes turn clockwise in the southern hemisphere. The SW quadrant of Yasi will be most dangerous as it hits land, where waves and wind move in same direction.
People living in the massive impact zone, where winds are expected to reach 180mph, should be prepared for a “terrifying 24 hours“, [Australia PM Anna] Bligh said.
By contrast, when winds get above 60mph, walking vertically becomes difficult. Above 70mph, walking is not advised. I’ve been through big hurricanes but nothing remotely like Yasi, which is seriously more powerful than Katrina was…