Cyclone season advice please

Blonderer · Veteran Member

Cyclone season advice please

jonathan · Guru

Hi Julie .. and a belated welcome to the group .. (had a 'puter problem, now resolved).

I was just up that way recently and posed the same thoughts. I took the advice of others to simply carry on with my normal plans 'til such a time that relative reports may cause me to make alternative plans.
As the circumstances can vary so much, its best to simply keep an ear out for the weather forecasts .. on the tv or via the net ..

One of the my preferred 'weather sites' on the net is >> http://www.eldersweather.com.au/ <<

.. you can simply enter in a 'town' to get a weather forecast ..

Jon

(currently at Macquarie Woods, NSW)

Sheba · Guru

Blonderer wrote:

With cyclone season approaching, I am wondering, if a warning is given out, should I head inland in my mobile home if camping near the sea? Don't they lose power as they come off the sea and head inland? If so, how far inland do u need to drive?

-- Edited by Blonderer on Thursday 11th of November 2010 11:16:12 PM

Just take a look at the route Cyclone Tracy took. Did a big loop inland, following all inhabited areas, before taking off to sea again.

Mostly, I think they're unpredictable.

Have a look at what Cyclone Kathy did on the southern Cape, and Borroloola, in 1984.

You can find all this on the Net.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Blonderer · Veteran Member

Thanku Jon, have saved that site in my favorites...

Blonderer · Veteran Member

Sheba wrote:

Blonderer wrote:

With cyclone season approaching, I am wondering, if a warning is given out, should I head inland in my mobile home if camping near the sea? Don't they lose power as they come off the sea and head inland? If so, how far inland do u need to drive?

-- Edited by Blonderer on Thursday 11th of November 2010 11:16:12 PM

Just take a look at the route Cyclone Tracy took. Did a big loop inland, following all inhabited areas, before taking off to sea again.

Mostly, I think they're unpredictable.

Have a look at what Cyclone Kathy did on the southern Cape, and Borroloola, in 1984.

You can find all this on the Net.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Thanks Sheba, will check those out..

milo · Guru

you can always download weatherzones widget for your pc, sits in the background and you can type in the town , postcode and gives you a good idea on how the week will be

its also on the iphonee too
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/

jimricho · Guru

Blonderer wrote:

With cyclone season approaching, I am wondering, if a warning is given out, should I head inland in my mobile home if camping near the sea? Don't they lose power as they come off the sea and head inland? If so, how far inland do u need to drive?

-- Edited by Blonderer on Thursday 11th of November 2010 11:16:12 PM

Can't speak from personal experience here but yes, cyclones do lose power as they move inland due to no longer being "fuelled" by the warm ocean and the increased friction of the land's surface on the surface winds. How far inland?....good question.... Cyclone Larry (I think that was it's name) that hit Innisfail a few years back also caused havoc on the Atherton Tableland.

As alluded to in the posts above the websites mentioned plus of course the BOM site are good sources of information, also local ABC radio.

Tap into the local knowledge too. Long time locals usually have a pretty good "handle" on these things.

Keep in mind that when cyclones do move inland they may lose their "sting" in terms of wind velocity but they often downgrade to a rain depression that can bring moderate to major floods.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 12th of November 2010 06:41:09 AM

BobnBev · Senior Member

Hi Blonderer, We sat one out in the west back in the late 90s.. And if anyone said there could be one coming I would be out of there as quick as my wheels could turn.. It was cyclone aliva and we were on the beach near Karatha wa.. And we were in a 30 ft bus, if that had been a cv or some thing smaller, they would be still picking up the bits..
Its better , and safer not to play chickin with them...

rocan · Veteran Member

we live in N.Q and you get plenty of warning when cyclones are about.the biggest problem when traveling is not the cyclone but the flooding.you can always move away when the warnings start but if you get caught in the floods there's no telling what could occur.
the safest way is not to travel too far north between december and march.
rocan

petengail · Guru

here is another good cyclone watch site.. This is the one i use to track cyclones... not sure how you get it over to the west though....

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html

-- Edited by petengail on Friday 12th of November 2010 08:20:21 AM

clazandaza · Senior Member

We live in Cairns and our standing plan if a cyclone is to hit this area is to run the van up to Ravenshoe. Will still get wind and heaps of rain but historically it will be well down from what would happen on the coast.

This plan all depends on warning times however as Cyclones can change direction at a whim and what was safe today is not safe tonight.

Sat through a couple of these storms over the years when I didn't have much in the way of belongings. All a bit of an adventure then but when you have a nice van and house with all your memories (photos etc) in the firing line it changes your perspective a bit.

Happywanderer · The Master

Have never been anywhere close to a cyclone but you ask would you head inland.
I imagine after checking the weather online etc and working out which direction it is heading I would head in the opposite direction.

eg, If it is supposed to come inland at a particular point, don't go inland but head south well away from any point that it might travel, the further away the better and maybe not north as cyclones seem more active the further north you go.

Blonderer · Veteran Member

THANKU everybody for ur great suggestions.....

Pejay · Guru

HI Blonderer, Hubby and I have lived in Townsville (him most of his 20 yrs in the Army in Tsv, and helped with Althea, when the army was called in, at the time) and we are heading up there in February - dumb idea, but not mine - our daughter is expecting her first baby then, and we have discussed a 'Plan B' if required re. cyclones, and that is I shall stay with our daughter (son-i-l is in the army and away alot) and hubby will pack up the van and head out to Hughenden. As others have said though, you get plenty of warning if a cyclone is heading your way, and you act accordingly.

-- Edited by Pejay on Friday 12th of November 2010 05:47:36 PM

bill12 · Guru

I hate to say it , but cyclones destroy caravans, mainly because they are designed to be lite. . I was in a caravan during Tessi in 2001 and it tore strips off the thing before blowing the hatches out. I spent the rest of the night on the neihbors couch.The best thing to do in the cyclone season is go as far south as you can. Work the seasons.I am sorry if I am a bit negative , but this is the truth!.

Di-n-Gary · Veteran Member

As everyone else has said, their is very good info on cyclone tracking and strength so thatleaves you with a bit of tome to work out a plan, maybe not always head south as alot of cyclones track south and possibly would be following you,best to act on each one as the info comes in. If you live in Bundy , not too many have gone that way

wendyv · Guru

How far inland you need to go depends on the strength of the cyclone. They are unpredictable things and the BOM doesn't always get the tracking right. Cyclone George in 2007 was thought to be going to parallel the WA coast. Then it did a quick turn off Port hedland and came onshore just shy of a Category 5. Fortescue Iron's Rail Village 1, which was about 100km south of Hedland, was destroyed, a couple of people killed and others very seriously injured. Pictures of the destroyed pre-fabricated buildings are very sobering. There was some damage done to roofs etc at Rail Village 2, which was another 100km further south again. So, in the van, I would be heading inland a long way - and not leaving it too late, either.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I'm sure I put a response on here very early in the piece, but it seems to have disappeared.
In Broome at the caravan park I lived in for 9 years, chains are deep in the concrete slabs and I had chains and turnbuckles to secure my van to the ground. I also had cables secured to the tropical roof trusses and attached to the ground level tie downs.
During TC Rosita in 2000 a mahogony tree fell toward my van and the tropical roof took the brunt of the load. I replaced 2 sheets of iron.
Another TC hit Anna Plains Station and demolished what was my bedroom when I lived there. The homestead is 5km inland from the coast.
Over the years people tried to flee cyclones. They got as far as Sandfire Roadhouse, he ran out of fuel because he wasn't prepared for the rush. The cyclone hit Sandfire.
Running is not always the best way to deal with these things.
I left my van and sat it out at a friend's house. We played cards all night by candle light, and watched the water being blown across the floor in big bubbles. The noise was horrendous. We eventually got some sleep when the noise settled down.
It dumped 6 inches of rain after 23 consecutive days of rain, averaging 2 inches a day. The ground was so soggy everything just fell over in the blow.
They are unpredictable, treacherous and not to be taken lightly. However, the likelihood of one crossing the coast at Broome or even Cairns is geographically unlucky.
In '96 a cyclone was heading straight up King Sound toward Derby, but by the time it got halfway in it fizzled, thankfully. It just dumped a lot of rain and caused floods which lasted for months.
That's the tropics for you.
Yesterday I drove through thunderstorms and unexpected squalls which caused flash floods. I just took my time and applied my outback knowledge to get through.
For a while there I thought my caravan was going to be a houseboat. But nah! Didn't happen.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Have been thinking about cyclones and feeling glad that we dont have them in Canberra... or in Victoria. So I was going to suggest Summer holidays down South, but then remembered we have bushfires at this end of the country!

In both cases (Cyclones and Bushfires) the advice given is to leave... but it seems the question of where to go doesnt seem to be answered.

JRH · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:

Have been thinking about cyclones and feeling glad that we dont have them in Canberra... or in Victoria. So I was going to suggest Summer holidays down South, but then remembered we have bushfires at this end of the country!

In both cases (Cyclones and Bushfires) the advice given is to leave... but it seems the question of where to go doesnt seem to be answered.

As far away as possible.LOL

Cruising Granny · Guru

Blonderer wrote:
With cyclone season approaching, I am wondering, if a warning is given out, should I head inland in my mobile home if camping near the sea? Don't they lose power as they come off the sea and head inland? If so, how far inland do u need to drive?

-- Edited by Blonderer on Thursday 11th of November 2010 11:16:12 PM

There are warning systems in place on radio and television. If you have the internet you can check out the BOM cyclone tracking site for yourself.
The Blue Alert is when a monsoonal low could form into a cyclone and affect the area you are in.
Yellow Alert is a cyclone is in your area to be prepared with extra food, torches, water etc.
Red Alert is stay indoors, the cyclone is imminent. Don't come out until the all clear has been given.

The power lines could be down, trees will be all over the place, coconuts have become canon balls, and water and mud will be everywhere. It's in your best interest to stay put.
The Blue Alert could be as early as a week or 2 before the cyclone forms, if it forms.
All this information is available on the BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) internet site where the alerts and procedures are explained.
I packed my annexe away and put everthing away on my first blue alert in Broome, and the bloody thing never arrived. I then adopted a policy of Yellow Alert, get ready to go, and Red Alert, get out to an arranged shelter or friend's house.
There can be a long period of time from the formation of the tropical low to the eventual cyclone, if it forms, or threatens the area you are in at the time.
Some locals become apathetic and stock up for the cyclone party. It's not a good idea. You need to keep your wits about you in these emergencies.