Cyclone Yasi is approaching Queensland in North Australia.

After the floods last month in Queensland, Australia does NOT need this. Cyclone YASI is headed for North Queensland and it is one mean storm. Winds are extreme in YASI with Three second wind gusts estimated at 120 knots.  Sustained 10 minute winds are at 85 kts. and climbing. Yasi is a huge storm and also a wet one. It looks very likely there will be a direct hit and the biggest threat is not the winds, but massive flooding.

Much of Queensland has had around 300mm (nearly one foot) of rain in the last 30 days. If this storm is as bad as it appears, another catastrophe is possible. Look at the rainfall maps from the ABM below:

From the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

The forecast track of Yasi is below:

Forecast track for YASI from ABM.

The worst of the storm will come ashore late Wednesday night Aussie time. More soon.