Cat.5 Cyclone Threatens Far North Queensland

Closing in ... Ingrid pictured last night off Queensland

Angry Ingrid on far north
March 08, 2005
From: AAP
News.com.au


RESIDENTS of far north Queensland are bracing for the arrival Cyclone Ingrid which was upgraded to a category five storm this morning as it closed steadily on the coast.
The wild storm system intensified into a category five cyclone this morning and at 7am (AEST) it was 320km east north-east of Cooktown, moving toward the coast at 6km/h.
Ingrid is now a category five storm, the strongest possible, with winds of up to 290km/h in its centre. It is showing no signs of weakening as it moves landward.
Residents between Lockhart River and Port Douglas have been issued with a cyclone warning, meaning they should expect at least gale force winds over the next 24 hours.
"People between Lockhart River and Port Douglas should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially protecting boats and property using available daylight hours," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Cairns has also been put on notice it could be hit.
Last night Ingrid was moving west south-west at about 8km/h but shifted to a slightly more northerly track in the past few hours.
A cyclone warning centre spokesman last night said their computer models suggested the cyclone would continue to maintain its slow but consistent speed towards the coastline for at least the next 24 hours.
He said there was nothing to suggest Ingrid would weaken in the immediate future.
"It's more external influences coming in that would make it weaken - a change in the upper level winds and that sort of stuff that would weaken it away and we're not seeing any of that at the moment," the spokesman said.
"It's also expected to move towards the coast at a time when tides are very high at this time of year anyway, so there could be some inundation of low-lying areas as well as a very significant rainfall and destructive winds."
The forecaster said the BOM would continue to keep a 24-hour watch on Ingrid until she no longer posed a threat to communities.