UPDATE 1PM:
Streets in north Queensland are deserted as the region prepares for the onslaught of Cyclone Yasi, which has been upgraded to a category five event.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Cairns and Cardwell at 10pm (Queensland time) tonight, coinciding with the high tide.
State Premier Anna Bligh said the timing meant a very dangerous storm surge could be expected across a large stretch of the north Queensland coast.
‘‘I cannot say in strong enough terms, you have to take this window of opportunity to evacuate,’’ Ms Bligh told people at risk of the surge.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Cairns and Cardwell at 10pm (Queensland time) tonight, coinciding with the high tide.
‘‘It will close within the next three hours. Do not bother to pack bags, just grab each other and get to a place of safety.’’
State disaster co-ordinator Ian Stewart said the winds would not suddenly pick up at midday.
“This wind is gathering speed now,” he said.
Mr Stewart said while roofs on houses may lift off, people should stay bunkered down as it would be far more dangerous to then run out of the property.
Ms Bligh urged people to prepare mentally for what would be a traumatic event.
“The next 24 hours is going to be frankly a very terrifying 24 hours for many people in the danger area,” she said.
“Now is the time for people to prepare themselves and their families and their children mentally for what they’re about to experience.”
Extensive power cuts
Ms Bligh said torrential rains and ferocious gale winds would be felt, while power was expected to be cut to affected regions later today. People would be going into this event without electricity.
Ms Bligh said Ergon Energy was planning for an event that could see between 150,000 and 200,000 people lose power, even in areas not impacted by the cyclone.
‘‘They expect that we could see the impact come as far south as Mackay in relation to electricity supply,’’ she said.
‘‘Because this event has now escalated to a category five event, we also need to understand that it will have the capacity to bring down transmission towers.
‘‘This means that electricity supply could be seriously disrupted even in parts of regional Queensland that do not have the effects of the cyclone and people need to be ready for that possibility.’’
Category five
Earlier today, Cyclone Yasi was upgraded to a category five cyclone, surpassing the size and destructive intensity of cyclones Larry and Tracy.
It is expected to smash into the coast near Cairns tonight with furious winds of up to 300km/h, torrential rain and floods adding to Queensland's massive damage bill from natural disasters this summer.
Communities between Port Douglas and Townsville are being warned of an "extremely dangerous" storm tide as it approaches the north Queensland coast.
"Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi is a large and very powerful tropical cyclone and poses an extremely serious threat to life and property within the warning area," the Bureau of Meteorology said in its updated warning.
"This impact is likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations."
Senior bureau forecaster Gordon Banks said Yasi could take at least 24 hours to weaken after it makes landfall.
The storm surge is expected to reach 2.5 metres above the highest tide, inundating the Cairns CBD.
Cairns at risk
Cairns mayor Val Schier told ABC Radio that some people were refusing to leave their homes and "that is their prerogative", but they were at risk if they did not move to higher land.
Most businesses in the city had closed down by this morning and very few people were on the streets, she said. But Ms Schier said some people were not taking the cyclone warnings as seriously as they should.
"We are as ready as we can be but it is frightening, I can tell you," she said.
Lives could be lost
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said lives could be lost and warned that flooding from a storm surge, caused by high winds pushing water onshore, could be more dangerous than wind and flying debris.
''It will be a display of the awesome power of nature but it's not something you want to go outside and watch,'' she said.
When the eye of the storm strikes land, wind gusts are likely to lift roofs and cause significant structural damage.
A direct hit on Cairns was a more likely scenario according to computer models, said a senior meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, Ann Farrell.
Evacuation centres
Seven evacuation centres have been set up around Cairns, but conditions are spartan and evacuees were advised to bring food, bedding and medication.
One of Australia's leading experts on natural disasters said the centre of Cairns could be swamped by ''ferociously powerful'' waves caused by Yasi.
''This cyclone is a monster,'' warned Douglas Goudie of James Cook University's Centre for Disaster Studies.
Dr Goudie said the predicted surge of two metres above king tide levels would leave much of the centre of the city under water.
''All the central business district would be under water but it wouldn't be slow-moving water. These waves might not be very high but they would be carrying objects that could smash into buildings and we could see a lot of damage.
''When you combine this with the wind speeds that are predicted, this cyclone is a very frightening prospect,'' he said.
with AAP
Affected residents can register with authorities and concerned friends or relatives can make enquiries on 1300 993 191; international callers phone +61 7 3055 6220.
Earlier this morning, Cyclone Yasi was upgraded to a category five cyclone, surpassing the size and destructive intensity of the cyclones Larry and Tracy.
It is expected to smash into the coast near Cairns tonight, with furious winds, torrential rain and floods adding to Queensland's massive damage bill from natural disasters this summer.
The cyclone was upgraded overnight, meaning winds of up to around the 300km/h mark are expected.
Communities between Port Douglas and Townsville are being warned of an "extremely dangerous" storm tide as it approaches the north Queensland coast.
"Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi is a large and very powerful tropical cyclone and poses an extremely serious threat to life and property within the warning area," the Bureau of Meteorology said in its updated warning.
"This impact is likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations."
Senior Bureau forecaster Gordon Banks said Yasi could take at least 24 hours to weaken after it makes landfall.
"There’s still potential for it to become stronger ... as a strong category five we could see wind gusts in excess of 320 kilometres an hour, which is just horrific," he told the ABC this morning.
The storm surge is expected to reach 2.5 metres above the highest tide, inundating Cairns CBD.
Cairns Mayor Val Schier told ABC Radio that some people were refusing to leave their homes and "that is their prerogative", but they were at risk if they did not move to higher land.
Most businesses in the city had closed down by this morning and very few people were on the streets, she said. But Ms Schier said some people were not taking the cyclone warnings as seriously as they should.
"We are as ready as we can be but it is frightening, I can tell you," she said.
The Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, said lives could be lost and warned that flooding from a storm surge, caused by high winds pushing water onshore, could be more dangerous than wind and flying debris.
''It will be a display of the awesome power of nature but it's not something you want to go outside and watch,'' she said.
Ms Bligh told Sky News the cyclone was likely to hit about 10pm at high tide.
"That means storm surges are an even greater problem today than we have contemplated yesterday," she said.
"People still have a very small window of opportunity to move to a safer place."
When the eye of the storm strikes land, wind gusts are likely to lift roofs and cause significant structural damage.
A direct hit on Cairns was a more likely scenario according to computer models, said a senior meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, Ann Farrell.
Evacuation orders have been given to people in high-risk areas from Cooktown to Hinchinbrook Island.
The evacuation of patients from Cairns Base Hospital began at 9.15pm yesterday. About 30 were taken to the airport, where 10 planes were to ferry them to Brisbane.
"I'd rather stay here, but there's not too much you can do when a disaster strikes," said Warren McDowall, who has a hole in his bowel and is expected to remain in hospital for three more weeks. "I heard of the evacuation on the news first, but I understand why it had to happen. The sea is just across the road from the hospital and if this thing hits, this place is first in the firing line."
Six evacuation centres have been set up around Cairns, but conditions are spartan and evacuees were advised to bring food, bedding and medications.
The state disaster co-ordinator, Ian Stewart, said those fleeing the cyclone should aim to reach Mackay. He told people to get as far south as possible but urged them not to drive in high winds today.
One of Australia's leading experts on natural disasters said the centre of Cairns could be swamped by ''ferociously powerful'' waves caused by Yasi.
''This cyclone is a monster,'' warned Dr Douglas Goudie of James Cook University's Centre for Disaster Studies.
Dr Goudie said the predicted surge of two metres above king tide levels would leave much of the centre of the city under water.
''All the central business district would be under water but it wouldn't be slow-moving water. This surge would be powered by winds of around 280km/h and that would produce ferociously powerful waves that would be terribly destructive. These waves might not be very high but they would be carrying objects that could smash into buildings and we could see a lot of damage.
''When you combine this with the wind speeds that are predicted, this cyclone is a very frightening prospect,'' he said.
Supermarkets in Cairns reported panic buying of essential supplies and airlines put on extra flights to help visitors leave the area. Cairns Airport will close at 10am this morning after at least 900 people fled the city by air yesterday.
Sea ports are also closed.
Further north in Cooktown, the community of 2200 people was bunkering down to withstand the storm.
''The winds could reach up to 300 kilometres an hour and could cause a lot of structural damage,'' said the Cook Shire Council mayor, Peter Scott.
''Cooktown is an old town but a lot of the buildings built from 1975 are built to withstand cyclones.''
with Georgina Robinson and AAP
Affected residents can register with authorities and concerned friends or relatives can make enquiries on 1300 993 191; international callers phone +61 7 3055 6220.
