Post by SKYSUMMIT on Apr 10, 2014 11:33:57 GMT -6
The category-five cyclone is now expected to make landfall this afternoon between Cape Melville and Cape Tribulation, coinciding with the high tide.
Ita has very destructive winds of around 285 kilometres per hour near the centre, and is expected to cause flash flooding with falls of up to 400 millimetres.
At 10:00pm Thursday (AEST) the system, which has already wreaked havoc in Solomon Islands, was about 320 kilometres north-north-east of Cooktown and moving west-south-west at 15 kilometres per hour.
Destructive winds may hit communities between Cape Melville and Cooktown early this morning before extending inland and to the south.
A warning has been issued for Lockhart River to Innisfail, extending inland to Kalinga, Laura, Palmerville, Mareeba and Chillagoe.
The weather bureau says the cyclone is the most severe system it has seen approach the Queensland coast since Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
"It has definitely intensified over the last six hours and it is showing a structure with a real evident eye in the centre," senior forecaster Andrew Bufalino said.
Senior forecaster Pradeep Singh says the system is now extremely dangerous and could potentially become a "middle or a high-end" category five cyclone.
The bureau expects damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of some low-lying areas between Cape Melville and Cape Tribulation.
Very heavy rain is also expected to develop around parts of the Peninsula and North Tropical Coast and Tablelands districts tonight and over the weekend.
Cooktown residents are being warned that properties built before 1985 may not be able to withstand Ita's impact.
Premier Campbell Newman has cut short his trade trade trip to Asia and has visited Cooktown, which is at the centre of the cyclone preparation effort.
He has urged residents of those dwellings built before the building code was amended to seek shelter elsewhere.
Mr Newman says one third of the dwellings in the town of about 2,400 people could be vulnerable.
"We're just asking people to make an assessment. If it's a more modern house, you're probably safe if it's well maintained. Otherwise consider going to another residence," he told 7.30.
The Cooktown cyclone shelter has opened tonight at the PCYC Cooktown Events Centre.
Residents are also being urged to take the opportunity now to charge mobile phones and prepare an emergency kit, which should include a radio and batteries, drinking water and non-perishable foods.
Authorities say they have a wide-ranging emergency plan and are taking into account the possibility that the system will track towards Cairns.
"We don't put all the eggs in one basket," Acting Chief Superintendant Brett Schafferius said.
"The planning that is taken by the councils and the districts allows for the flexibility and the change as mother nature changes her mind."
