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So then, I appear to be in the path of a cyclone.

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A very rare event is happening at the moment in South-East Queensland: a cyclone has escaped from the tropics and is currently menacing just off the coast of Brisbane about 5-600km south of their normal range. It’s expected to move further south for a day or so then quickly jag right in a hairpin bend, intensify, and cross the coast right at Brisbane in a couple of days. The last cyclone to hit anywhere near here was in 1974 and that was considered a complete anomaly. Huge rainfall, destructive winds and severe coastal erosion are all being forecast.

I’ve been through a few cyclones when I lived in North Queensland years ago, but this is different. Infrastructure around here isn’t built for cyclones, and I now live in a house surrounded by trees.When I analyse why I feel so vulnerable this time, I guess it comes down to the fact that I now have a family and more assets. We are used to extreme rainfall events (as destructive as they are) but wind is something completely different.

The only good outcome is the now minuscule chance that it continues to the east away from the coast, otherwise it’s going to smash into the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane or Northern NSW (Byron Bay).
So, if you see it on the news, spare a thought for at least one Afterworder who is currently bricking it.

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Comments

  4. Yes, we’re bunkering down in northern NSW too. Fortunately we had a delivery of what looks like a year’s supply of bog paper last week, so we’re ok in that department. I’ve been working through the list of things to think about, and we’re also ok for cash (in case ATMs and tills go down), petrol, baked beans, pasta, fruit & veg etc. Dug out the radio. No whistle or glow sticks though. Mrs thep has been madly pruning in case trees get blown over.

    Nothing to do now but wait. As with Pods in his neck of the woods, our houses aren’t built for cyclones. Wishing we’d strengthened the roof before the solar panes went on…the main worry though is floods. A fair number of people are still living in tents and caravans after the last floods 3 years ago. We’re safe (DV) but there’s a significant amount of trauma evident on the local Facebook group.

    Good luck one and all!

  8. I feel your pain

    In late Jan, Ireland hit by biggest storm for almost 200 years.
    Seen many big typhoons hit Hong Kong during all my years
    there, but nothing quite like this

    Wind speeds of 183Kms per hour and hundreds and hundreds
    of trees felled – one of them a beautiful old Beech tree that had
    stood on my family’s farm for god knows how long

    Mote Park, a gorgeous reserve where I used to go and walk the dogs three or four
    times a week on different trails was totally flattened.

    People about a mile up the road from where I lived were without electrrcity and
    water for almost two weeks

  11. Update is that this cyclone is taking its sweet time, ambling towards the coast at walking speed and even doing a loop-de-loop last night. It was meant to hit tonight (Thursday) but now pushed back to Sat morning. Brisbane today was quite pleasant with a few gusts and some sprinkles of rain.

    On the Gold Coast, however (about 100km south) the beaches are getting slammed and a 14.5m wave was recorded. Northern NSW is already flooding (hope you are going OK Mike!).

  14. We get nothing like that here in Sweden. But a few weeks ago we did have a major snowstorm and few mega pile ups.

    Good luck, guys. I’ll be thinking about you all in the next few days.

    • We’ve come through ok down here in northern NSW, thanks for asking. There was a lot of wind but not full cyclone strength, and a fuck of a lot of rain, not far south of 500mm over the past few days. But flooding is nowhere near as bad as 2022, although folks who are actually flooded won’t agree. Lot of roads cut though, and there will be landslips a-gogo.

      Mrs thep had stashed a couple of large cardboard tubes under the house, and when the wind was at its height we were getting these ghostly didgeridoo sounds, which was rather soothing.

      Can’t answer for the Brisbane folk though. Hope they’re ok too. Brisbane had its wettest day for 50 years on (I think) Saturday.

  17. Thanks for filling us in. @mikeghep,

    Those spooky didgeridoo sounds do sound very soothing.

    I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all
    Of you down there in Brisbane Åre managing OK.

  18. We are OK, but have been flooded in with no power or phone connectivity for 3 days. Absolutely biblical quantities of rain. No power means no water or sewage, for us. We finally received some very weak phone connectivity last night (thus this update). Authorities are saying another 2 days before power here. Our emergency water supply has run down and we have cooked or thrown out all food in our fridge and freezers. We should be able to get out later today and will camp at my mother’s. Cat will get one last feed then have to fend for himself for a day or two.

    Had a lovely occasion last night where a couple of the other trapped neighbours with kids came over and I made wood-fired pizzas for everyone using up whatever anyone could bring. They tasted pretty damn good.

    • Glad to hear you’re OK. We had no power for 2 days, fortunately the BBQ was at hand, so all good. Still plenty of evidence of panic buying, there was nowt left when I went to the supermarket last night. I suppose it is difficult for deliveries to get through with flooding. Massive queues at the bust stops this morning, as schools are back. I’m supposed to be seeing New Order tonight at the Riverstage in Brisbane, which is an outdoor venue, it’s still going ahead apparently, so it should be an interesting experience. Planning on bring my wellies, which will be a first.

      • Good to hear you’re both ok, though it sounds grim. A friend out in the sticks has been in the same boat (swidt?) as you, Pods – flooded in with no power or internet for 3 or possibly 4 days. As if by magic this morning a chopper landed in the paddock next to her house and two knights in shining hi-viz and hard hats climbed out and proceeded to fix the pole. 33 properties powered up again!

        • What a wonderful story, @mikethep.

          Australia. …

          Where the guys from the electricity company suddenly land in the neighbouring paddock in a chopper.

          Where you can suddenly find unexpected bull sharks lurking round your pontoon and nibbling at your toes.

          Where, amidst all the chaos and confusion, music festivals are still functioning and you can nip off to see P J Harvey and New Order.

          Dull it isn’t.

  19. Hope you really enjoyed the New Order gig @dan-druff.

    Music can be such a wonderful tonic in times of tribulation.

    That @Podicle Pizza Party sounds like a blast. It seems like you had to use all your culinary imagination. Good for you,

    Great to hear that you are managing to keep your spirits up.

  21. I was thinking about you all and monitoring the news which did suggest it was tons of rain rather than mass destruction which is probably a result in the scheme of things. Glad you’re all ok anyways.

    • Thanks Kaisfatdad. I was really surprised this gig went ahead, a huge risk, not only because of the weather, but also the public transport system was in disarray as a consequence, not much fun for punters of event staff. I had a great time, NO do a good job of the visuals complementing the music. Also, it didn’t rain !

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