Best of luck to us and to Cruising Granny. We are likely to be close to the path of dear old Olga tomorrow or Monday. Very very hot and still here right now (calm before the storm). We have all the emergency gear ready to go but I dont know how the poor old van will cope at the side of the house. Having said that I dont know how all these new houses around here will cope as well. Allegedly cyclone rated etc but never put to the test.
A lot of cyclone damage is caused by flying bits and pieces from other peoples property. I hope my van doesn't damage someones patio when it lands there!!
Will report (power supply permitting) when its all over.
Batten down mate.Our thoughts and best wishes are with you guys.Cheers.Ibbo.
jimricho said
08:06 PM Jan 23, 2010
ibbo wrote:
Batten down mate.Our thoughts and best wishes are with you guys.Cheers.Ibbo.
Ditto from me....I hope "Granny's" ok too. She may have to pack some of her stuff away and pull the annexe down. No doubt she will have things under control as best she can
best wishes,
Jim
-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 23rd of January 2010 07:06:43 PM
xina said
08:06 PM Jan 23, 2010
Good luck every-one up there. Went through 2 in three weeks in '84 further up the Cape.
Can empathise.
Cheers,
xina.
BarbandDaz said
08:35 PM Jan 23, 2010
good luck with all in the path of Olga. Keep safe Barb
pricey43 said
09:08 PM Jan 23, 2010
Thinking of you. Hope everything holds together and that other people's flying gear doesn't cause too much drama. Looking forward to hearing how you go.
DeBe said
09:40 PM Jan 23, 2010
This will be avery interesting learning curve for my daughter/husband & childrenas they just moved to Cairns a couple of weeks ago. Daryl
Delta18 said
10:59 PM Jan 23, 2010
Lucky buggas, it has always been an ambition to sit through a cyclone. Probably be scared ****less but , wow, what an experience.
milo said
11:48 PM Jan 23, 2010
Good luck, we usually get a big storm after a hot day like today,
but when in vans/motor homes etc, how do you cope, get on during a big storm or cyclone?
ibbo said
07:09 AM Jan 24, 2010
Any news yet Ian?Hope all is good with you guys up North.Cheers.Ibbo....Sunday Morning.
Helen said
07:59 AM Jan 24, 2010
Will be thinking of you and family and friends. Was there for Larry so don't wish another on anyone. Take care.
ibbo said
08:23 AM Jan 24, 2010
DeBe.You must be like a cat on a hot tin roof,worst thing about being a parent,never out of your heart or minds are they.All will begood for them and hopefully they will stay safe.My thoughts are with you as a parent.Cheers.Ibbo.
ibbo said
08:34 AM Jan 24, 2010
Latest on TV news re Olga.Due to cross the coast at Cooktown this pm.Pictures show how ugly the weather is.Thinking of you all up North.Cheers.Ibbo.
ibbo said
08:50 AM Jan 24, 2010
Just a bit more info re.Olga.High tide at Cairns.on Monday at 6.am will be 2.42 mts.Is that high for the area?Cheers.Ibbo.
Tropical Cyclone Olga has strengthened as it tracks toward the far north Queensland coast.
The Category Two system is about 190 kilometres east of Cairns and Cooktown.
It is moving west to north-west about 21 kilometres per hour.
Ann Farrell from the Cyclone Warning Centre says Olga is expected to cross the coast this afternoon.
"Well there's a range of possibilities but on current movement certainly we've got a warning current between Coen and Innisfail and between Cape Flatery and Port Douglas looks like the most likely area for landfall," she said.
She says it is likely to make landfall around Cooktown.
"Certainly we're looking at wind gusts of 140 kilometres an hour near the centre of the system... destructive winds near the core of the cyclone," she said.
"The other big thing of course with these systems is the rainfall and the potential for flooding that they can produce."
People in far north Queensland have been stocking up on supplies.
Emergency Management Queensland's regional director Wayne Coutts says residents seem well prepared for Olga.
"Getting around town, you see most people taking steps, and certainly talking about it at the shopping centres and those sorts of things," he said.
"Generally people are suitably alert to the system."
Hundreds of millimetres of rain have fallen over the last two days between Innisfail and Mossman, and more is expected.
Mr Coutts says drivers must take care around any floodwaters caused by the cyclone.
"Sometimes the water goes up, the road closed signs go in, and people think 'I wonder if it's still closed, the water's gone down a little bit'," he said.
"But there could easily be damage underneath the roads that just swallow up the car and obviously all the occupants, so you don't want to put the family at risk."
ibbo said
09:55 AM Jan 24, 2010
Thanks for that update Joe.good one.Cheers.Ibbo.
Ma said
09:57 AM Jan 24, 2010
Not looking good for our FNQ mates. I am sure the GN's are well prepared and hopefully everyone else as well.
Stay safe people and let us know how you are when you can.
Thinking of you all.
Elaine and Rob
clazandaza said
10:05 AM Jan 24, 2010
ibbo wrote:
Just a bit more info re.Olga.High tide at Cairns.on Monday at 6.am will be 2.42 mts.Is that high for the area?Cheers.Ibbo.
Latest report I saw mentioned that the storm surge tide should be no larger than the biggest tide of any normal year. Of course King Tides in Cairns often flood some of the streets in the low areas. Not fun having salt water in your garden etc.
At this stage looks like we might be ok here in Cairns. Of course there is nothing to say Olga wont do a 90 degree turn and come to visit. Not much wind here as yet
Ian
joebee said
10:08 AM Jan 24, 2010
Or salties.
ibbo said
10:35 AM Jan 24, 2010
Thats good Ian,you sound positive,lets hope the crazy sheila does not turn round.There was an Olga in 2007 that caused all kins of destruction,cant think just where now.Keep safe all you folk up North .Cheers.Ibbo.
dave06 said
11:03 AM Jan 24, 2010
I'm with you neil, love to sit through Just one!
bill12 said
11:43 AM Jan 24, 2010
As a north queenslander for 40 odd years, I can say thet cyclones are like women- unpredictable! Magnetic is. and Townsville had a cat 5 in 72 called Althea with winds of 180 mph (whats that in kph?) which destroyed the town and killed a number of people. These days the houses and othe infrastruture is much better, and the warning system great.I usually clean up the yard, tie down anything that is moveable, get in provisions(home made rum and beer is important) and watch the cricket.My house went trough "Tessi " in 2001 and all it did wasblow the roller door off the shed- it was flapping like a towel!Its dyna bolted down now , so I feel safe. Also, check your insurance is paid. I hope all the people in vans are all right.i,m headind south for a month , tommorow. Bill
dave06 said
12:05 PM Jan 24, 2010
180 miles per hour equates to very roughly 300 kilometers per hour, 6 x 300 = 1800, drop a zero and you have 180 which is about right or as close as damn is to getting a kid a hiding!
if you take kph and times it by 6 and drop a zero it comes out very close, I.E. 6 x 100kph = 600, drop the zero and it is 60mph
this is not edzacary right but it's close enough for me, the correct one is more complex and cant be done in my head but this way can and it's close enough
I reckon a cyclone would scare the stains out of my undies but I'd like to see one just once from a safe position, I remember the B.I.L. in cairns was on the phone to me last year during one he was describing his trees going then him gaining a shed then having it repossessed then his fence going
JRH said
01:54 PM Jan 24, 2010
Got the tail end of Alby in 1979, that was bad enough for me. We lived on the coast 100 meters from the beach at Rockingham and my youngest daughter was holding on to the car door handle with both hands and I kid you not she was horizontal.
Aluminium window awnings just rolled up like opening a sardine can and disappeared over the roof never to be seen again. That was only the tail end of Alby, never want to go through a full blown one. I feel for all those who are in the path of Olga, I pray they all stay safe and sound.
jimricho said
07:04 PM Jan 24, 2010
I have a friend who lives in Cooktown so I hope they don't cop it too hard up there.
wendyv said
07:36 PM Jan 24, 2010
2006/7 we worked on the construction of two temporary accommodation villages for the crews building FMG's railway in the Pilbara. A couple of weeks after we finished up the main part of the second one and flew out, Cyclone George came in and demolished Village 1. It was a good 100km inland, supposedly only necessary to build for category 1 (was built to Cat 3). It even did some damage at Village 2, which was another 100km or so further south. Having seen some of the photos of Village 1, and knowing what it was like beforehand, there is no way I want to go through a cyclone!
Best of luck to us and to Cruising Granny. We are likely to be close to the path of dear old Olga tomorrow or Monday. Very very hot and still here right now (calm before the storm). We have all the emergency gear ready to go but I dont know how the poor old van will cope at the side of the house. Having said that I dont know how all these new houses around here will cope as well. Allegedly cyclone rated etc but never put to the test.
A lot of cyclone damage is caused by flying bits and pieces from other peoples property. I hope my van doesn't damage someones patio when it lands there!!
Will report (power supply permitting) when its all over.
Ian
Ditto from me....I hope "Granny's" ok too. She may have to pack some of her stuff away and pull the annexe down. No doubt she will have things under control as best she can
best wishes,
Jim
-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 23rd of January 2010 07:06:43 PM
Keep safe
Barb
This in just a minute ago
Olga closes in on north Qld coast
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/news/articles/3325833.olga-closes-on-north-qld-coastTropical Cyclone Olga has strengthened as it tracks toward the far north Queensland coast.
The Category Two system is about 190 kilometres east of Cairns and Cooktown.
It is moving west to north-west about 21 kilometres per hour.
Ann Farrell from the Cyclone Warning Centre says Olga is expected to cross the coast this afternoon.
"Well there's a range of possibilities but on current movement certainly we've got a warning current between Coen and Innisfail and between Cape Flatery and Port Douglas looks like the most likely area for landfall," she said.
She says it is likely to make landfall around Cooktown.
"Certainly we're looking at wind gusts of 140 kilometres an hour near the centre of the system... destructive winds near the core of the cyclone," she said.
"The other big thing of course with these systems is the rainfall and the potential for flooding that they can produce."
People in far north Queensland have been stocking up on supplies.
Emergency Management Queensland's regional director Wayne Coutts says residents seem well prepared for Olga.
"Getting around town, you see most people taking steps, and certainly talking about it at the shopping centres and those sorts of things," he said.
"Generally people are suitably alert to the system."
Hundreds of millimetres of rain have fallen over the last two days between Innisfail and Mossman, and more is expected.
Mr Coutts says drivers must take care around any floodwaters caused by the cyclone.
"Sometimes the water goes up, the road closed signs go in, and people think 'I wonder if it's still closed, the water's gone down a little bit'," he said.
"But there could easily be damage underneath the roads that just swallow up the car and obviously all the occupants, so you don't want to put the family at risk."Stay safe people and let us know how you are when you can.
Thinking of you all.
Elaine and Rob
At this stage looks like we might be ok here in Cairns. Of course there is nothing to say Olga wont do a 90 degree turn and come to visit. Not much wind here as yet
Ian
Aluminium window awnings just rolled up like opening a sardine can and disappeared over the roof never to be seen again. That was only the tail end of Alby, never want to go through a full blown one. I feel for all those who are in the path of Olga, I pray they all stay safe and sound.