Severe tropical cyclone Yasi is quickly gaining strength as it roars towards the Queensland coast, ahead of major evacuations that involve entire suburbs.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the cyclone may even be stronger than Wilma, which peaked as a Category 4 cyclone shortly before weakening as it moved over New Zealand waters.

But unlike Wilma, Yasi is gaining power and now covers an area up to 2500kms wide. 

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi – just 1500kms east of Cairns / Google Earth

The cyclone is predicted to hit just south of Cairns – potentially within just 80kms of the city centre.  The greater city area is home to about 160,000 people.

Yasi comes just after Cyclone Anthony, a weak category 1 cyclone, which hit early Monday morning and dumped up to 266mm in some places within 24 hours.

Last week WeatherWatch.co.nz was the first forecaster in Australasia to warn of Cyclone Yasi and today the weather news authority says it has the potential to be devastating to the region.

ABC is reporting that Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says the cyclone bearing down on the Queensland coast has the potential to be the biggest the state has ever seen.

“This is an event we have to take seriously. I know cyclones can at the last minute turn off the coast, and I certainly hope this one does.

“But the bureau advises me in the most serious terms, that all of the modelling right now says this is going to cross our coast.”

Yasi is expected to have winds of up to 280km/h when it makes landfall, as early as 38 hours away (early hours of Thursday morning NZT).

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

WeatherWatch.co.nz will have extensive coverage of Yasi over the coming two days