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 » Continue Reading.