It’s that time of year in the tropics.
Well, to be strictly accurate, it’s rather late in the year for this sort of thing. I’m talking about Tropical Cyclones. But yes, we’re on alert again. There’s already an active system off the coast of Western Australia, Tropical Cyclone Caleb. So if ours develops, it’ll probably begin with D…
image © Accuweather
This is what the low pressure system off our coast is currently looking like. It’s not yet an official Tropical Low, the stage before Tropical Cyclone. Yet. However, Higgins Storm Chasing reckons we’ve got a 75% chance of the thing converting to something nasty by Sunday.
If you want to read more on this story, go here. Higgins Storm Chasing have an excellent record of accurate reporting, photographing and predicting some of our more energetic weather events. The coastal strip between Cairns and Mackay is involved, and although the Bureau of Meteorology hasn’t yet issued the official warning, we’re paying close attention, and I’ll be hooking up the caravan to power and firing up the ‘van fridge tomorrow in case we lose power in the house and have to transfer food to the ‘van fridge, which can run on LPG, or propane. Time also to hit the supermarket and lay in some groceries and emergency supplies, fill some water jerrycans, etc. Last time this happened, Cyclone Marcia reached Category 5, and was 150km off our coast, and then it abruptly turned left and made landfall just north of Rockhampton instead.
I hadn’t counted on babysitting the Dowager’s cat during a major weather event, but she’ll just have to put up with it. She’s vocal enough at the best of times, but I’m really not looking forward to the incessant yowling and complaining because she can’t go out…
If you could cross your fingers that the low either deteriorates or passes north or south of us, that would be appreciated. I’d rather the former; that way no-one gets clobbered.
UPDATE:
It’s beginning to appear that we may escape the wind. Not the rain, however, widespread flooding is on the cards for most of northern Queensland. The image below is the 8 day rainfall forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology. I think I need to find some sandbags…
talltalesfromchiconia 
I’ve got my fingers crossed – but I’ll have to uncross them from time to time otherwise I won’t get anything done 😉 Good luck with the cat too =^..^=
It’s one of those scenarios where you wish the weather gods would hurry up and decide if you’re getting a large serve of wind and rain, or if it’s going somewhere else… We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
I’ve got everything crossed here for you too 😀
Cheers! It could take a while to resolve, so remember to uncross from time to time to restore blood flow 🙂
Lol, will do 👍🏻
Fingers crossed and hoping it doesn’t come to fruition. Good to be prepared though. For us, it’s been 3 weeks of storms, hail, torrential rain and a leaking garage with a mouldy roof and a non-planned water feature in our hall. Now awaiting an insurance evaluation, fun and games. Rain, bugger off – to mid-west country NSW where they are desperate, not to you of course. Good luck.
Actually, I’d quite like it to go to central QLD, where they haven’t seen a drop for the last 5 or 6 years…
Fingers crossed it goes to those who need it.
Serious Weather potential, and a visiting cat to make things interesting 🤔
NIMBYism kicked in as I read… we don’t want or need anymore Weather Events, just a little ray of sunshine, and some more rain next month, later, after ANZAC day.
I’d sort of hoped the Windy Season had passed, end of March is usually safe. No such luck. Still hoping that Higgins are being a bit pessimistic, but that’s a big fat low out there…
Be careful, stay safe. Hugs.
It’s my 4th cyclone season here, so I’m well prepared. For the rest, it’s in the lap of the gods…
Take care! Glad you know the drill. Every area has its weather/geological challenges, I think. Fingers crossed for you.
Thank you. We have several alternate plans, it’s a matter of choosing the one best suited to the conditions.
Fingers crossed. Sending strong deep breaths blowing it away from you. Good luck. put your head phones on so you don’t have to listen to your house guest.
She’s fine normally, I can deal with her ‘conversation’, but she’s a terrible wailer in the car…
So sad. Will keep you in my prayers
Thank you, it all helps!
May the storm gods bestow all that water where it’s most needed and may the Dowager’s cat find herself in need of a very long nap. Happy finger healing to you!
I’d love to be able to forward all the unwanted water to the drought lands… As for Puss, she can take what comes, just as we will. She’s undemanding, just very vocal!
Oh dear, that would explain all the rain. I hope that it doesn’t get too serious where you are (actually I hope that it just dies down completely, that’d be great!). And I also hope we don’t get flooded too bad in Brisbane this year 😞
I reckon you should be reasonably safe; it’s supposed to stay well north of the Tropic of Capricorn. I saw this evening that the BoM have finally sat up and taken notice. There’s a forecast for worsening conditions on Sunday, with a 50% chance of the Low turning into a cyclone. Happy days…
batten down the hatches!
Exactly!
Fingers, toes, arms, legs, and eyes all crossed! I hope it dies or veers off into the wide open sea.
That would be the best of all possible solutions, but all the weather sites and forecasters are saying it’s too early to call where it’s going to go, or when. If she comes, she’ll be called Tropical Cyclone Debbie!
Hold fast to your stuff…I still hope it veers off!
Veering off gets less and less likely the closer it comes. Time will tell what we get in the end.
Fingers crossed! Keep safe
We’ll take the decision whether to bale out or hunker down later today. Either way, there’ll probably be a period of ‘radio silence’ either because we’re travelling or because the power is out. Better get the deep cycle batteries charged!
Oh my goodness! Keep safe, and we’ll pray!
We’ll do our bit, you do yours and everyone will come through OK!
Stay safe xxx
Thank you, we’re working on it!
I grew up in Florida so I know this dance well. Dad was police so he always had to stay behind if we evacuated. In retrospect I have much pride in my mother for dealing with this year after year, alone, with two kids and cats and birds and whatever scaly oddity I had at the time.
From my perspective, it gets easier each time. The first time it happened I was very scared. Now, I know that preparation (and good insurance) are the key. Of course, I don’t have kids and recalcitrant pets (usually) to deal with! Keeping an eye out for updates, but that is one really big weather system…
You’ll be safe, I know. Winds are one thing, water is the worse thing.
If TC Debbie turns into something really nasty, we’ll be baling, and deal with the consequences when we get back. It’s a very big weather system right now, hundreds of kms across, it has the potential to create a very wide destructive track. We shall see….
Yikes. Be safe, my friend.
Working on it… 😉
Fingers and toes crossed. So your cyclones are more like a hurricane or typhoon rather than a land tornado. I went through a typhoon in Taiwan when the eye came over the island. Never saw anything like it! Water coming right through closed window. It’s like insurance when you make ready. If you have everything necessary, you won’t need it but if you blow it off, heaven help you. I’ll hope for the best for all. Especially the cat. 🙂
Hurricanes or typhoons are northern hemisphere, down here they’re cyclones. But yeah, same same. 90 mph winds, horizontal rain, roofs blown off. We bought a new generator today, one which can keep the big stuff going and back up the deep cycle battery in the caravan. As you say, being prepared is the best insurance 🙂
Yikes, Big Weather Stuff going on there 😦 But you seem very very organised, which is precisely what I would have expected from you! Take extra care.
We thought for a while we would be able to escape the Big Wind, but the damn thing is turning gradually south. Still, as you say, we’re prepared. Big generator, deep cycle battery on charge, fridge full and plenty of water 🙂
Oh boy. Well, what can I say but to wish you luck. And hang on to your hat….
We went out for dinner tonight, on the basis that by the time our anniversary comes round on Friday next week, we may be otherwise engaged, either standing down or clearing up 🙂
I hope it crosses near us and settles above the Dam to fill ‘er right up! 🙂
Have a look at the BoM rainfall 8 day forecast, and I think you’ll agree that the Dam’s going to get a large serve!
Kate, I’m holding my breath and crossing fingers, too. Having witnessed flooding up close for the first time this year, I can relate to the angst. Your weather is far more severe than anything we’ve ever seen here. I guess you have to be prepared and take it hour by hour at this point. Nature’s going to decide. How nice to have the van as backup for supplies and light. Great planning on your part.
You’re right, it’s an hour-by-hour situation. It’s moving very slowly right now, but unfortunately that also means it’s gaining force. So far, the track forecast has us escaping the worst of it, but that could change greatly in the next few hours.
Still looking okay, Kate?
We’re in the gale zone as of 8am, although with luck (for us!) she’ll pass north of us as a Category 4. We’ll see 100mph winds instead of 160mph… But it’s changing hourly, so we’re not making any assumptions and preparing for the worst.
Good grief, Kate, that’s brutal. I’m glad you’ll have time to prepare and will hope everything is battened down and that you and your community remain safe.
We’re ready. The hatches are battened down, everything loose is under cover, we have the generator ready. It’s already pretty windy, 35mph and gusting. Bizarrely, it’s still really warm at around 85°F. If we have to lose power, I’d like it to be a bit cooler so we don’t boil to death 😉
I’ve just been reading another article that makes things look dire. 35 mph! What time is it there, Kate? It’s 10:40 here on Saturday.
It’s currently 3.55pm on Sunday. 35mph is actually quite low compared with what we’ll be seeing tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday…
https://www.hurricanezone.net/
Wow!
That’s Caleb. He’s just a baby compared with Debbie, who’s a very big girl indeed:
https://www.windytv.com/?-16.215,149.941,5
Thank you for the link. I’m just now getting caught up. I see too, that Caleb is on the other side of Australia.
He’s also quite small and not very close to the coastline. Unlike Miss Debbie, who’s making herself felt in a big way… I’ll email you a wind map showing where we are.
What a cool map. Where do you live Kate. Are you along the coast or inland?
I’ve emailed you something to show our location, staring right down Cyclone Debbie’s throat…
Oh, thank you. I’ll go have a look.
Mackay is on the coast, and our house is less than a mile from the sea. We’re also close to a tidal creek, and we’re expecting a storm surge coupled with the high tide, so we could have seawater in the street too.
I’ve been watching the map link you posted, Kate. How stressful to be in a wait and see pattern. It looks powerful.
She’s pretty darn strong, and turning our way bit by bit. Not fun to watch, but better to know than to sit around in ignorance, I feel.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/26/cyclone-debbie-weather-bureau-predicts-airborne-debris-and-power-failures
Yup, that sounds about right….
I see she’s officially a cyclone now…..hi there Debbie! Looks like she’s going to sit out to sea for awhile, shame, she’ll get tougher and you might get quite a lashing. Hold tight, good you have Lizzie for back-up.
Yup, she’s firing on all cylinders now, and by the time she comes ashore it looks like Cat 4. We’re back on high alert and tying down everything that moves. Generator’s ready, fridge is stocked. It looks like Monday afternoon/evening for landfall. I’m glued to Higgins and the BoM!
Love Higgins!!
Me too, especially the rain and wind links to WindyTV in the Live Weather menu!
Fingers crossed here – hope you’ll stay safe.
The wind’s rising already, a good 24 hours before the cyclone’s due to arrive. We’ll be safe, I’m sure, but I think sadly some damage is inevitable given how close it’s going to pass… Never mind, it’s only Stuff.
Are you evacuating?
Nope. We’re battened down, the generator and caravan are ready in case the house power goes out, and there’s not much at ground level in the house that’ll suffer if we do get flooding in the street. We’re looking at crunch time around 10pm…
Hang onto your bootstraps, be safe. Thinking of you down here x
Thanks – I have my own fingers crossed for the poor buggers in Ayr…
Yep, no fun up that way, and wouldn’t want to be on one of the islands.
No indeed. The hanging around is beginning to get on my nerves. Debbie is Too Slow. They’re now saying tomorrow morning before she hits. Grrr… We’ve a wet and windy night, but that’s about it.