BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A hurricane-force storm heading for Australia's Queensland coast could be its strongest ever and residents in some areas were told to evacuate, officials said.
Weather forecasters said the storm -- officially called Tropical Cyclone Yasi -- could have winds up to 150 mph when it crosses the coast Wednesday evening and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh warned residents to prepare for heavy rain and huge storm surges, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Monday.
Storm surges occur when high winds push water to a shoreline.
Forecasters said Yasi could be as powerful as a storm called Larry, which heavily damaged parts of far north Queensland in 2006. Residents in some low-lying areas have already been told to move to higher ground.
Yasi is 300 miles across and its eye measures more than 60 miles in size.
Bligh said Yasi "may well be one of the largest and most significant cyclones that we have ever had to deal with".
"This is an event we have to take seriously. I know cyclones can at the last minute turn off the coast, and I certainly hope this one does".
"We are encouraging people in that region to start stocking up and begin preparing yourselves, your homes and your families for a very significant event".
Townsville Mayor Les Tyrell said Yasi could cause storm surges of 12 feet or more.
"The major issue we've got at the moment is the possibility of up to a 4 meter [about 12 feet] storm surge and we are currently looking at all the areas in the city that would be effected by a storm surge and we are asking those people to consider evacuating by Tuesday afternoon," Tyrell said. UPI
