Complete news from Australia on Cyclone Yasi, February 2, 2011

UPDATE: VIDEOS AVAILABLE HERE (hat tip to reader Nicola Vaughen): http://cyclone.videohq.tv/

Homes to tumble 'like a house of cards'

Amelia Bentley 1:45pm Windows will explode, roofs will lift and homes on stumps may simply fall over and crumble when category five Cyclone Yasi crosses the coast, experts say.

Too late to leave: residents told to stay

Staff reporters 11:06pm Many thousands of homes are now without power in north Queensland, including the entire Townsville CBD, as the effects of Cyclone Yasi continue to mount.

Waves 12m high to lash coast

Dan Nancarrow 3:26pm Waves as high as 12m are predicted to hit the north Queensland coast as the storm surge caused by Cyclone Yasi combines with a high tide.

AIR TRAVEL

Airports across north Queensland close

Andrew Heasley 1:33pm Escape by air from the tropical north Queensland in the path of category-5 cyclone Yasi has become virtually impossible, with most regional airports in the danger zone now closed.

Bunkering down on an island paradise

Dan Nancarrow 11:23am Fitzroy Island is a secluded place at the best of times.

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Too late to leave: drivers told to stay put

Tony Moore 11:32am Major roads in north Queensland will be closed for safety reasons within a few hours, Premier Anna Bligh told a media conference this morning.

Don't panic if roof lifts off: authorities

Jessica Marszalek 12:57pm People bunkering down at home for the onslaught of Cyclone Yasi should prepare a safe room and not panic if their roof lifts off, authorities say.

Cyclone knocks out island weather radar

12:05pm The Bureau of Meteorology's weather radar on Willis Island has been knocked out by the impending cyclone, with huge winds recorded just after 8am local time before it went down.

Storm threatens 10,000 Townsville homes

Petrina Berry 10:23am More than 10,000 homes in Townsville are at risk of inundation from a massive storm surge generated by Cyclone Yasi.

Mandatory mass evacuations at Innisfail

9:28am Mandatory mass evacuations are in full swing at Innisfail, south of Cairns, as a severe cyclone nears Queensland's north coast.

Yasi looms large over tiny Tracy

Cameron Atfield 5:00am Category five Cyclone Yasi's size and power will dwarf Cyclone Tracy, the most devastating storm in Australian history, and could cause even more widespread destruction.

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'Don't bother to pack bags'

9:30am Cyclone Yasi is expected to cross the north Queensland coast between Cairns and Cardwell at 10pm, coinciding with the high tide.

'It will start being terrifying around lunchtime'

7:46am Cyclone Yasi is the most devastating storm ever to hit Queensland, Premier Anna Bligh says.

Cyclone Tracy-like scenes feared for Cairns

8:22am Cairns Mayor Val Schier says the city could see Cyclone Tracy-like scenes when monster Cyclone Yasi hits.

'Most life-threatening storm in generations'

7:21am Monster Cyclone Yasi is expected to be the most life-threatening storm in generations, the Bureau of Meteorology warns.

Residents must evacuate now: Bligh

7:21am Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says north Queenslanders at risk of tidal storm surges have very limited time to evacuate as Cyclone Yasi nears the coast as a category five.

Here it comes ... Cairns prepares for the worst

Staff reporters 7:04am With Tropical Cyclone Yasi expected to make landfall at Cairns tonight, the far north Queensland city has been preparing for the onslaught of the biggest cyclone in living memory.

Another year, another cyclone for sisters

Tony Moore 5:00am Innisfail sisters Ailsa and Linda Croatto know a lot about surviving cyclones.

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Cyclone forces 300 schools to close

About 300 schools in Queensland's far north, north and central regions will be closed from tomorrow as severe tropical cyclone Yasi approaches.

How Yasi will affect north Queensland

Marissa Calligeros The first sign of Tropical Cyclone Yasi's impending arrival in north Queensland will be a moderate breeze of 20kmh early tomorrow morning.

Cooktown braces for destructive winds

Petrina Berry The far north Queensland township of Cooktown is bracing for destructive winds when Cyclone Yasi crosses the Queensland coast.

Flood escape turns drama for 'cyclone virgin'

Daniel Hurst Trips scrapped and extra flights added in north Queensland.

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Sugar crop, tourism at risk from cyclone Yasi

A massive cyclone due to slam into Queensland could threaten around a third of the state's sugar cane crop and add another blow to tourism.

Cats and dogs flown out of Yasi's path

Jessica Marszalek About 100 cats and dogs will board flights to safety on Tuesday as the RSPCA moves animals out of the destructive path of Tropical Cyclone Yasi.

Thousands face evacuation

Daniel Hurst Thousands of north Queensland residents could be forced to leave their homes later today as authorities prepare for the arrival of TC Yasi.

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Yasi will be worse than Larry: Bligh

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi will hit the north Queensland coast with greater ferocity than devastating Cyclone Larry, Premier Anna Bligh says.

Batten down the hatches, state's north told

Residents along Queensland’s northern coastline have been warned they have only a day to prepare for tropical cyclone Yasi.

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Rockhampton prepares for Cyclone Yasi

The central Queensland city of Rockhampton is preparing for a severe tropical cyclone, warning residents to be ready for potential evacuations.

Queensland still needs you, Bligh says

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is asking Australians to adopt a generous spirit towards a controversial flood levy.

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Inland communities at risk from Yasi: BoM

Communities between Cooktown and Townsville are most at risk of a direct hit from severe tropical cyclone Yasi, forecasters say.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/cyclone-yasi