Remembering Cyclone Yasi

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi was a very powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that made landfall in northern Queensland, Australia on 3 February 2011, causing major damage to affected areas. Originating as a tropical low near Fiji, the system intensified to tropical cyclone status during the evening of 30 January 2011. Yasi underwent rapid development over the next 24 hours, with the storm classified as a Category 3 cyclone at about 5 PM AEST (07:00 UTC) on 31 January 2011. Late on 1 February the cyclone strengthened to a Category 4 system, then early on 2 February, the cyclone intensified to a Category 5 system. The system had a well-defined eye and continued to track west-southwest, maintaining a central pressure of 930 hPa (27 inHg) and a dvorak intensity of T6.5 into the evening. At about 12:00 AM AEST (14:00 UTC) on February 3, Yasi crossed the coastline as a severe Category 5 cyclone near Mission Beach, with estimated maximum 3-second gusts of 285 km/h.