Cyclone Debbie hits Northeast Australia

Cyclone Debbie roared ashore in Queensland as the most powerful storm to strike Australia since Cyclone Yasi destroyed Queensland resorts, homes, and crops in 2011, according to catastrophe risk modelling provider AIR Worldwide.

Debbie landed at Airlie Beach in Queensland on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, as a Category 4 storm on the Australia Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) intensity scale (similar to a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane), with wind gusts as high as 260 km/h (160 mph) and heavy rain. A large, slow-moving storm, Debbie missed high tide by a couple of hours, sparing Bowen, Mackay, and other coastal towns the high storm surge that had been predicted. Debbie deintensified quickly after reaching land and by the end of the day had been downgraded to a Category 2 cyclone on the BOM scale.

"Moving at a crawl over the warm waters of the Coral Sea, Cyclone Debbie had strengthened from a tropical low five days before landfall," said Anna Trevino, senior scientist at AIR Worldwide. "Prior to reaching Queensland, Debbie tore through the popular tourist destination Whitsunday Islands, damaging resorts, beaches, and boats. On Hamilton Island, a maximum sustained 1-minute wind speed of 220 km/h (136 mph) was recorded."

"Debbie is the first tropical cyclone of hurricane strength to affect Queensland since Tropical Cyclone Marcia in 2015. In late January this year, a record was set for the longest period without a hurricane-strength storm (74 mph or greater winds) in the three major Southern Hemisphere basins, 280 days."

Within hours of Cyclone Debbie landfall, the Insurance Council of Australia  declared the storm a catastrophe, which can facilitate settling claims.

Coal mine operators in Debbie’s projected path shut down, marine terminals and along the coast closed, and the Townsville Airport suspended operations.

Cyclone Debbie’s powerful winds and heavy rain exacted the damage expected throughout the impacted coastal region: downed trees, damaged roofs and gutters, broken windows, and boats ripped from moorings. Flooded streets have resulted in damage to vehicles as well as residential and commercial property. Caravan (trailer) parks have reported substantial damage. Power outages occurred in a number of areas from Bowen south to Mackay, and communications to some communities has been affected.

Trevino said: "The heavy rain, which could result in flash flooding, is predicted to continue this week, with 24-hour rainfall totals of 150-200 mm (6-8 inches) expected and up to 500 mm (20 inches) possible, which could result in major river flooding. The Bowen region boasts a sizable agricultural industry, and farmers remain uncertain of the impact on the tomato, sugar, rice, and capsicum (pepper) crops."

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