How strong were the winds during the cyclone Yasi? Yasi is a category 5 – the highest. Well it is difficult to tell because most of the official recording equipment has been blow away and the web sites indicate “No Data Available”. Luckily one site is still recording and that is at the town of Lucinda. This mall town is south of where the eye crossed but some distance from the centre as one can see below. The wind started from the south at 20 Knots increased to 60 knots then changed direction to NW at 70 knots with gust as high as 100 knots. The wind then went back to the south with wind currently at 50 knots.
Look at the drop in pressure. It dropped from 1010 to as low as 988 hPa. With a drop of 10 hPa in about 10 hours. What a change.
Just imagine 50 knots. I have experienced a single gust of about 50 knots and Malua was blow right over on to its side but what would have happened with a gust of 100 knots.
I hope all vessels are secure and not damaged. Our management of Marine Rescue in NSW have as usual kept us in the dark about offering assistance to the Queensland VMR.
