Queensland gets hit hard by Category 5 cyclone

I saw on the internet this morning that northern Queensland got hit by Cyclone Yasi this morning (a category 5 cyclone).

"Almost 90,000 homes are now without power in north Queensland, including the entire Townsville CBD, as the effects of Cyclone Yasi continue to mount."

Just wanted all our Aussie friends to know we're thinking of you and hope that everything comes out OK. Isn't QLD the same place that got hit badly by the recent floods? Poor Aussies- here's to hoping the weather leaves you alone very soon.
Hope everyone is safe and order is restored soon. Hugs to you all!!

I second that, every time I've seen stories on the net or the news about the floods and extreme weather I think of our TE friends from Australia and New Zeeland. Hope you are well out there.

Tri Girl, it is indeed Qld that was hit by floods late last year & this year..This time it's in the far North Queensland area..I'm not sure how this one compared to Cyclone Larry they endured in 2007.

One thing that shocked me is the size of the cyclone (now been downgraded but it still hit last night). They mentioned it would cover most of the US..!!! http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...-1225998762870

Wow. Hope everyone stays safe out there!

HOLY COW!!! That picture is alarming!!!:D
I can't believe it's THAT HUGE!!! WOW!

Latest briefing has 180,000 homes without power but amazingly, no fatalities (with the proviso they haven't got information from some places yet). They just can't get in to some areas after a second high tide + storm surge + flash flooding. Seems we might have been unbelievably lucky - relatively - that it hit land in smaller communities. They are closing the Cairns evacuation centres today, and it's weaked to a Category 2 but it's still going to dump an awful lot of rain inland.

Glad to hear no fatalities. So scary when mother nature unleashes her A game!